Wicked Share Croppers ~ Day 33

November 19, 2006 - Day 33

Mark 12:1-12

Passage: Jesus tells a stunning parable to this group of leaders who have come to question His authority. He says that a man planted a vineyard and built everything that was needed for making wine. He leased it to tenant farmers to take over the operation while he was gone in a far country. During the growing season, the owner sent several servants back to the vineyard to see what progress was being made. Each time a servant arrived, the tenants beat and killed him. After all his servants were killed, he decides, “Surely if I send my son they will respect him.” No, rather they kill him and throw his body out of the vineyard. Their thinking was, “This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.” Jesus then poses the question, “What will the owner do?” His answer, “he will come and destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others.” The leaders that had approached Jesus realize that Jesus is telling this parable against them. Out of fear of the people who supported Jesus, they leave and abandon their effort to arrest Jesus.

Application: God set up the nation of Israel to be His special people. They received great promises and blessing from God. He made a covenant with them through Moses. This covenant was conditional. They were given laws that they were supposed to keep. If they were not careful to obey them and to only worship God, then they would lose their priveledge. This is the story that Jesus is telling and He is specifically pointing His finger at these men. They were in positions of authority over the Jewish people. They had a responsibility to uphold the law for their nation, but they had horribly distorted it to their own advantage. Jesus pronounces future judgment upon them for what they had done. The application to me is that God has given me a great responsibility now as a Christian and one day as a pastor. Now it is my duty to uphold the name and honor of Jesus Christ and to proclaim the gospel for the good of the church and for the nations. It will be even more my responsibility once I have the position of pastor. I pray that God will give me a clearer perception of the incredible responsibility I have. I do not want to turn this responsibility into selfish gain as the Jews did. Oh God be gracious to me. I often neglect this.

Raw Hypocrisy ~ Day 32

November 18, 2006 - Day 32

Mark 11:20-33

Passage: The chief priests, scribes (experts of Jewish law), and the elders were supposed to be the cream of the religious crop in Jesus’ day. They were supposed to be men of God. But Jesus exposes the raw hypocrisy and unrepentance that controlled their lives. A group of these men approach Jesus to challenge Him. Just the day before Jesus was turning over tables and driving ungodly men from the temple. Now Jesus is back in the temple and these men want to know who he thinks He is. They ask Jesus, “By what authority are you doing these things, or who gave you this authority to do them? Jesus very easily could have responded that His Father in Heaven gave Him authority, but instead Jesus uses this opportunity to expose their hard hearts. He asks them a question they cannot answer, or rather, a question they fear to answer. He asks, “Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me.” In other words, Jesus wanted them to say whether or not John the Baptist was a true prophet of God. They huddle together to figure out their answer. Their discussion between themselves reveals their utter hypocrisy and unrepentant hearts. It goes like this, “If we say, “From heaven,” he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But shall we say, ‘From man’?” Mark then notes, “they were afraid of the people, for they all held that John really was a prophet.” Then their answer comes, “We do not know.” Jesus then responds to their original question, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

Application: In these days I find myself and other Christians in the very same situation that this group of men were in. The question that everyone must answer is, “Was Jesus from heaven or from man?” And we are all faced with the same consequences of answering this question. If Jesus is truly God, sent from His Father in Heaven, then we should believe in Him and submit to His will. If we say that He was merely a man then we must face the discipline of the church. To answer with an “I don’t know” is cowardly and unacceptable. This has been the response of many in the post-modern church. They are not willing to say that Jesus is the only way. They are not willing to say that the Bible is the inspired word of God. I must guard myself from turning cold as these men did. I must believe that Jesus is the Christ and I must be willing to repent of my sins before Him and submit to His will as it is revealed in the Bible.

Zealous For His Father's House ~ 31

November 14, 2006 - Day 31

Mark 11:15-19

Passage: Today’s passage gives a stunning view into Jesus’ zeal for His Father’s house, the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus enters the temple and begins to drive out merchants and he overturns the tables where money-changers were doing business. He begins to teach the people about how far the people of Israel, especially the leaders, had abused and distorted the temple. It was no longer a place of sacrifice and praise to God. It became a business district, a “den of robbers.” He refers to Isaiah 56:7 saying, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations.’ Jesus’ point is that if Israel knew that Jesus was the Messiah, they would have enthroned him as king. The temple would have become a place of prayer for the nations that they might believe in and submit to Jesus. But this was not the case. The next verses say that the chief priests and experts in the law “were seeking a way to destroy him.”

Application: I think the number one application of this passage for me is that Jesus is my king, and I should submit to Him as is fitting. All too often I do not listen to Him. All too often I do not obey Him. I pray that God would humble me at the feet of King Jesus. I pray that God would put a desire for obedience in my heart. Just like an earthly king, with Jesus there are great rewards for obeying His commands and there is great discipline for disobedience. I pray that you would keep me on the path of obedience. Spare me from the pains of your discipline. However, if it is necessary, let me experience your reproving, loving, Fatherly discipline. Thank you Jesus for bringing me into your kingdom. I pray that you would make your church a place of prayer for the nations. Make me a prayer warrior for all the peoples of the earth.

Have Faith In God ~ Day 30

October 31, 2006 - Day 30

Mark 11:12-14, 20-25

Passage: This is an interesting passage that seems a bit out of place, but actually the context gives this passage its meaning. Jesus was hungry so He went to a fig tree that was full of leaves. He expected it to have fruit on it, but it did not. It was barren. This seems to anger Jesus, so he curses the tree to never bear fruit again. The meaning of this passage is clear when it is considered by its surrounding context. The fig tree resembles the Jewish people who on a whole are a spiritually barren people. They will soon reject Jesus for a final time. They are very far from God. They are not fulfilling their purpose as God’s people, just as the fig tree is not fulfilling its purpose as a fig-bearer. This is detestable to Jesus. The Jews in fact would receive judgment from God for their rejection of Jesus and are still to this day.

Application: Jesus gives the application to this passage in verse 20, “Have faith in God.” The Jewish people simply would not believe that Jesus was the Messiah, the coming king. Jesus also says that we should trust God in all things. We should pray with faith, believing that God hears and answers our prayers. So, I must have faith in Jesus. I must believe that He was the Messiah sent from God. I must trust Him for the forgiveness of sin and for the provisions of life. He alone is worthy of this tremendous trust. Thank you Jesus for all that you are to me. I also think this passage beckons Christians to preach the gospel to Jews. They should not be excluded in our evangelism. It is very sad to see their current state, estranged from God.

Behold, Your King Is Coming To You ~ Day 29

October 30, 2006 - Day 29

Mark 11:1-11

Passage: In this passage we find Jesus entering the city of Jerusalem, riding on a donkey. This passage is often rightfully called “The Triumphal Entry.” This passage is a direct fulfillment of Zechariah 9:9 which says, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” There are several main points to this passage. Jesus was entering Jerusalem to claim his title as “King of the Jews.” Jesus truly was and is a king. In fact he is the king of the universe, the King of Kings. His rule is absolute and his jurisdiction is eternally vast. There is not one thing that is out of his control. He is the Sovereign King. Yet, we find Jesus entering Jerusalem on a lowly, untrained donkey. He was not accompanied by a great army or nobleman but rather the poor and feeble of society. He did not enter the city to overtake the throne by force but rather on the cross of crucifixion where he would be given his title “King of the Jews.” Jesus was given all authority on heaven and earth by His Father in heaven (Matthew 28:18). However his rule was not what the Jews expected. For now His rule is partially veiled to our eyes. One day when Christ returns he will exercise his kingly authority by judging all people according to their sins and He will rule in full, visible measure. His kingdom will no longer be “already, not yet.”

Application: The only right response to Jesus’ kingly authority is submission and praise. I thank God that He has revealed to me through His Word that Jesus is king over me. I thank God that He has not let me be confused like the Jews were. They rejected Jesus as their king because they could not see His kingdom. I must always submit to the commandments of Jesus that are laid out in the Bible. I must always praise Him and give Him the honor that is due to Him. I must trust His sovereign, all-powerful dominion over all of my life’s circumstances. He is a good king. He works all things for the good of those who love Him.

Jesus, Son of David! ~ Day 28

October 29, 2006 - Day 28

Mark 10:46-52

Passage: Today’s passage is very rich with meaning. The passage before [and its broader context] is concerning the kingdom of Christ that He has come to establish. As Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem for the last time, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus calls out to Him, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus asks Bartimaeus what he wants and Bartimaeus asks to be given sight to his blind eyes. Jesus grants his request and restores his sight. This could be seen as just another miracle of Jesus’, but there lies a certain meaning here. That is so important when reading the Gospels. Jesus did his miracles not only for the good of the people, but also to display something greater about Himself. Here we see Jesus referred to as the “Son of David.” Bartimaeus understood that Jesus was the one whom the Prophets spoke of (Isaiah 11:1-3; Jeremiah 23:5-6; Ezekiel 34:23-24). He knew that God had promised that a descendent of David would establish an eternal kingdom (Isaiah 9:6-7). And he believed that Jesus was that “Son of David.” Jesus’ power to restore Bartimaeus’ sight was a testimony to the truth of his claim to be the promised Messiah. The next passage of scripture tells of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem. Jesus would soon establish His kingdom unexpectedly, and yes ironically, through His death, burial and resurrection.

Application: One of the greatest applications I can think of here is this: God is faithful to His promises and His Word is a faithful witness to them. It is stunning to see how fully and clearly Jesus fulfilled the words of the Prophets of the Old Testament. It increases my faith to think upon these things. I thank God that He will be faithful to do what He has promised me. Secondly, I see how much Jesus cared for the downtrodden. Jesus went out of His way, fighting his way through the thick crowd to get to Bartimaeus. I hope that I can be this attentive to those who are crying out for help around me. Lord help me to be more compassionate towards the poor, sick, and oppressed.

Humility, Service, and Suffering ~ Day 27

October 28 2006 - Day 27

Mark 10:35-45

Passage: Mark is still revealing this theme concerning the disciples and their confusion about Jesus and His kingdom. James and John ask Jesus a favor. They ask if they can sit at Jesus’ right and left hand when Jesus is exalted in glory in His kingdom. In other words they want to be the Jesus’ number one men. They want a place of importance, power, prestige in the coming kingdom of Christ. Little did they know, the kingdom would not be about import, power, and prestige. Rather, the kingdom of Christ is about humility, service, and suffering. Jesus makes it clear that He did not come to sit on a throne but rather to die on a cross. Jesus challenges their request and corrects their request. Jesus says this great word, “and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man [Jesus] came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Application: This passage has profound implications for my life. Jesus has not received me into His kingdom to seek after honor, receive service, or gain temporal comforts. Quite frankly, this is a scary passage. In verse 39-40 Jesus predicted the sufferings and martyrdoms of James and John. Jesus did not call them to easy living, and He does not call me to easy living. First, I must be humble. I must not do things in order that people will recognize me or talk good about me. I shouldn’t be trying to make a name for myself. Jesus humbled himself in such a profound and admirable way when He descended from the glory of heaven to take on a human body and nature. I must be willing to come down to the lowest level of society in order to minister to all types of people. Secondly, I must not seek to gain great power. Jesus said that His disciples are not to rule in the same way that the Gentile rulers rule, cruelly and burdensomely. But rather with compassion and trust in God that He will accomplish what needs to be accomplished. Thirdly, I must be willing to minister to those who hate me and want to kill me. Jesus is the supreme example. James is another great example. He later became the first Christian martyr. Oh God, humble me and give me a servant’s heart that is willing to suffer for the sake of your gospel!

On The Road To Jerusalem ~ Day 26

October 27 2006 - Day 26

Mark 10:32-34

Passage: In this passage I find Jesus and the disciples making their way toward Jerusalem. The passage says that the disciples were amazed and afraid as they followed Jesus, who was ahead of them. It is clear that the disciples were afraid that Jesus was going to Jerusalem to fulfill the things He had earlier foretold, that is, his violent death and his resurrection. They were, in fact, right. After traveling some distance Jesus gathers the disciples and tells them they are going to Jerusalem so that He may be handed over to the chief priests and scribes and they will condemn him to death and deliver Him over to the Romans who will mock him, spit on him, flog him, and finally kill him. He then concludes by foretelling His resurrection from the dead, which will happen three days after He dies.

Application: If I had to pick one purpose for which Jesus came to earth, I would point to this passage. Jesus is the God-Man who came to be mocked, spat upon, flogged, and crucified. He suffered this not for the wages of His own deeds. It was for my evil life, my sins, my deserved punishment. I cannot imagine the thoughts that Jesus may have had on this trip; the thoughts of the physical pain that He would endure, the thought of being separated from His Father in heaven whom He had been in perfect fellowship with from eternity past. How did He not turn back? How was He not crippled in terror? Jesus being God, it was in effect His own wrath that He would experience. He knew the immeasurable torment He was going to endure on that cross. Even more so, how was He not enraged by the fact that He did not deserve this. It was my sin, not His. Oh Jesus, I praise you for this. I repent of my sin. Oh I turn from it in my sorrow. I praise you for your mercy. Help me to be merciful like you. Help me to be willing to suffer so that others will get to hear about this gospel of yours! Thank you for your mercy and grace. Help me to live as one who has been forgiven much.

Rewards Of Discipleship ~ Day 25

October 26 2006 - Day 25

Mark 10:28-31

Passage: In this passage we find Peter’s response to Jesus’ command to the rich young ruler. Jesus had told the rich young ruler that if he sold all that he had he would receive eternal life. With the help of Matthew’s account, we see that Peter wanted to know what he would receive for leaving all that he had in order to follow Jesus. It is amazing that Jesus responds by saying, “I tell you the truth, there is no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive in this age a hundred times as much — homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, fields, all with persecutions — and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Application: I think this passage can very easily be distorted and used in an incorrect way. This is clearly not a promise of big houses, big families, and big properties, at least not in the normal sense of the words, for those who follow Jesus. Rather, it is a promise of something greater. This passage is fulfilled in the community of the church. The early church, which is described in Acts, is described as sharing all things and giving to each other as each had need. It describes deep, personal relationships between believers. People like Barnabas sold their land in order to provide for peoples needs. I have recently been experiencing this type of bond with my new church. I am so thankful for what God has given to me through the church. True fellowship is priceless. It is important to note Jesus' inclusion of promised persecutions. It is simply a fact that any person who lives a godly life, radically following Jesus, will suffer from persecution, some more severely than others. All of these blessings are wonderful but none compare to the gift of eternal life. Jesus says in John 17 that eternal life is knowing God as he really is, forever. The main event of eternal life is being filled with everlasting joy in worship over the knowledge of God Himself! Oh I can’t wait! But I must.

Easier For A Camel ~ Day 24

October 25 2006 - Day 24

Mark 10:17-27

Passage: As Jesus is setting out to continue His journey, a man who is identified as a rich young ruler meets Him. The passage says that the young man runs up to Jesus and asks Him how he can have eternal life. Jesus responds in a very wise way. First He asks the young man if he had kept all the Ten Commandments. The young man responds, “well yeah, I’ve kept those since I was a child.” Jesus, without verbally addressing this rich young rulers sin, shows it by demonstration. Jesus then says to the rich young ruler, “you lack one thing, go and sell all that you have, give the money to the poor, and come and follow me.” The rich young ruler goes away with sorrow. He was not willing to give up all his riches in order to follow Christ. Jesus then says that it is as hard for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of heaven as it is as hard for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. The disciples are stunned at this saying and they want to know, “well who then can enter the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus says that it is impossible for man to do it. He says it is only possible with God.

Application: This is definitely a stunning passage of Scripture. I know that if I were left to myself with my own abilities and desires, I would not have sold all my possessions so that I could follow Jesus. Money and possessions hold such a powerful grip on the hearts of all people, especially me. Jesus said that we must be willing to give up everything in order to follow Him. I think it is right to say that the mere possession of money and things was not the problem of the rich young ruler. The problem was that his love for money was greater than his love for Jesus. He would rather have his riches than have eternal life with Jesus. This same principle applies to all sins. In order to follow Jesus I must be willing to give up all of my sins. This is the meaning of repentance. Repentance is the rejecting and turning away from sin so that I might follow Jesus. I pray that I may have the will and the desire, through the grace of God, to renounce all my sins and any sin that I might discover that is hiding in my life. Jesus, help me to love you more than any other person or thing. Guard me from collecting sinful treasures that dishonor you and your grace towards me. You alone are worthy of my fullest desires and longings.

Faith Of A Child ~ Day 23

October 24 2006 - Day 23

Mark 10:13-16

Passage: In today’s passage I find Jesus being a loving, caring Savior and also being a great prophet concerning the kingdom of God. Jesus was among a group of people when some children came running up to see Him and be blessed and held by Him. These are apparently very small children because the passage says that Jesus took them up in His arms. While the children are trying to get to Jesus, the disciples rebuke their parents (or whoever brought them to Jesus), but Jesus is angered by the disciple's actions. He tells them to let the children come to Him. Jesus then tells the disciples that the only way to enter the kingdom of God is to be just like the children. This was a stern rebuke and probably a very humbling moment for the disciples.

Application: I think this passage can be applied in numerous ways to my life. I want to be careful though and not stretch the analogy that Jesus used in ways it shouldn’t be. The most obvious condition of a child is that they are totally dependent on their parents for all of their life. The parent must provide shelter, food, clothing, and all other necessities. I must approach Jesus in this way. I truly am dependent upon Him for all things in life. I must not come offering my abilities and goodness but rather in a humble attitude of inability and desperate need. Secondly, children are dependent upon their parents for instruction, wisdom, and training in godliness. Children are the best students to be found. They learn so much from their parents, especially in the very first years of their lives. They learn to walk, talk, eat, right from wrong, and other skills. In the same way I must be totally submitted to the teaching of God. I must willing to study the Bible and listen to biblical preaching and teaching. I must be willing to be totally changed in my understanding of the world, of God, and myself. Thirdly, I think Jesus was saying that I must be joyful, glad to be embraced by Him and loved by Him. Children find much joy in their parents company. They love to be loved, cared and embraced by them. I must in the same way be joyful over Jesus. The analogy is not perfect because parents aren’t perfect and children aren't perfect. However, through my relationship to Jesus I have the perfect Father. Thank you Jesus for being so willing to embrace me.

Divorce And Remarriage In The Eyes Of God ~ Day 22

October 23 2006 - Day 22

Mark 10:1-12

Passage: This passage is anti-post-modern-American and maybe just plain anti-American. In today’s passage I find Jesus confronted with the issue of divorce. Jesus as He often does, refers back to the Old Testament. Specifically He refers back to the creation account in Genesis. I love to see Jesus affirm the Old Testament. Even more, I love to see Jesus give a fuller understanding of the Old Testament. That is what He does with the issue of divorce. The Pharisees want to know if it is lawful to get a divorce. Jesus says, “What did Moses say about it?” They say that Moses said to write a certificate of divorce and send her away. Jesus responds with an incredible rebuke and further explanation. Jesus said that the only reason Moses gave this instruction was because he had to deal with the sins of the people of Israel in an orderly fashion. Divorce was not God’s intention for marriage. God originally said after creation to not let anyone separate what God has joined. In other words, it is sin to divorce. Jesus goes on to say that not only is it sin to divorce but it is also adultery to remarry after divorce (Mark 10:11-12, Luke 16:18, Matt 19:7-9, 1 Cor 7:10-11, Rom 7:1-3).

Application: These verses are incredibly counter-cultural in the USA. People believe they have the right to marry and divorce as many times as they very well please. They will not accept the idea that there is a God who tells them what they should and should not do. Divorce and remarriage run completely against the intention of God for marriage. Marriage is supposed to reflect the loving relationship between God and man. Humans have distorted this relationship ever since Adam and Eve first sinned. It is my job as a minister of the Word of God to uphold His standards for marriage. First, I will never divorce my wife. I am a son of a divorced family. I have experienced what it does. I will not divorce for the sake of God’s glory, for the sake of my wife and for the sake of my future children. It’s affects are horrible. Secondly, I will not marry (as in administer a marriage) a divorced man or woman. It would be sin for either one to remarry and it would therefore be a sin on my part for joining together those who should not be joined together. The only exception to this remarriage rule is if the spouse of the divorcee is no longer living (Romans 7:1-3).

It's Better To Tear Your Eye Out ~ Day 21

October 22 2006 - Day 21

Mark 9:36-50

Passage: Today’s passage is a continuation of yesterday’s. Jesus is still teaching what I will call “kingdom ethics.” He first takes a child into His arms and says that the follower of Christ should embrace children. The disciples then ask Jesus what they should have done with a man they met who was casting out demons in Jesus’ name but he was not in the group of the twelve disciples. Jesus said that they should not have told this man to stop casting out demons. Jesus then gives a strong warning to the disciples that they should be sure to never cause someone to stumble and sin, especially not a child. He said it would be better for a huge stone to be tied around their necks and then for them to be cast into the ocean. He then gives another serious instruction concerning their own sins. He said that it would be better for them to tear their eye out or cut off their hand or foot if one of these members causes them to sin than to go to hell with two eyes or hands or feet.

Application: The best way to summarize the main application of this passage for my life is to say: I must live humbly and holy so that the heaven-bound don’t live like the hell-bound. The disciples are still struggling to understand what the kingdom of Christ is all about and how they should live in it. Jesus is driving home the idea that the kingdom is not about prestige and praise and it is not about living as one’s flesh pleases but rather in a manner that honor’s God and brings people to Christ. I must be willing to minister to the “lowest.” I must be so careful not to sin or live in a way that promotes sin in front of people so that I do not cause them to sin with a freer conscience. Jesus is so serious about this that He uses the graphic language of tearing out eyes and cutting off limbs. Of course He did not mean this literally but rather as an exaggeration to give emphasis. Help me God.

The Kingdom of Christ ~ Day 20

October 21 2006 - Day 20

Mark 9:30-35

Passage: Today I find Jesus traveling with His disciples and using the time alone with them to teach them about the kingdom of Christ. It is well known that the Jews of Jesus’ day were expecting a Messiah who would free them from the Roman rule and who would restore the nation of Israel to its former glory, forever. However, the plan of God was far different. Jesus did not come to earth to set up a physical kingdom. He did not come to conquer the Roman authorities by great military might. Rather he tells the disciples that He must killed by the hands of men and that He must rise three days later. He also makes it clear what type of following He expected from His disciples. The disciples were expecting greatness and honor to be awarded them for following Jesus. They wanted to be the king’s right hand-men once He set up His kingdom. Rather, Jesus said you must be last in this world and you must be servants to people. Then you will be considered first in the kingdom of Christ.

Application: The temptation to be number one in the kingdom of Christ is still a reality two-thousand years later and it is still just as contrary to the teaching of Christ. I must guard against desiring the praise of men. It is very easy for me to do things for the sake of being seen or for the mere thought that people will recognize me. This was contrary to the teaching of Jesus. He said you must be last and you must be a servant of people. Jesus also taught in other places that the validity of actions such as serving are also judged by the mind and attitude that they are done with. So I must be sure that in all my ministry and service to the people of God I am not doing it for my glory and praise. I must take the road of sacrifice and suffering that Jesus took and do it with a humble and joyful heart.

Help My Unbelief! ~ Day 19

October 20 2006 - Day 19

Mark 9:14-29

Passage: The passage today is a great continuation of the previous passage that told of Jesus’ transfiguration. Jesus, with Peter, James, and John, descends down the mountain only to find the rest of the disciples quarreling with some scribes. The quarrel centered on why the disciples were not able to cast out an evil spirit from a young boy. Jesus says the reason why they were powerless was because of unbelief. Jesus then declares that all things are possible to those who believe. The father immediately cries out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” Jesus then casts out the demon and restores the boy to normal.

Application: This passage, as all others, is divinely placed by God right after the transfiguration. The purpose of the transfiguration was to make it unmistakably clear that Jesus is the Son of God, the Messiah, the fulfillment of the Old Testament. As seen in this miracle, it is our’s to respond to Jesus in belief. By the grace of God I must believe that Jesus is the God-Man. He is capable of all things and is capable of using me to do all things. This boy seemed hopeless. It seemed impossible for him to be healed. Yet by grace through faith he was healed by Jesus. Everyday of my life I will encounter difficulties that will require me to have faith in Jesus. The greatest, most urgent difficulty is my struggle with sin. By the power of Jesus’ death on the cross sin’s power (death) has been destroyed. No longer does it hold victory over my soul. I must however daily place my faith in Jesus to conquer the remaining sins that I hold on to. Thank you Jesus for giving me the power to overcome so many sins so far. Please help me rid my life of any remaining sin. I believe; help my unbelief!

Jesus Ablazed In Glory ~ Day 18

October 19 2006 - Day 18

Mark 9:2-13

Passage: In today’s text I encounter an amazing miracle and sign. Jesus takes three of His closest disciples with Him high up on a mountain. There on the mountain Jesus is transfigured. His clothes become blazing white and Moses and Elijah appear and begin speaking with Jesus. The disciples are terrified and do not know what to do. Suddenly a voice from the cloud that is surrounding them speaks, “This is my beloved Son; listen to him.”

Application: One of the main purposes of this is event is to solidify and encourage the disciples understanding of who Jesus is. The amazing blaze of Jesus’ clothes is a revelation of His glory as the God of the universe. Moses is the representative of the Law in the Old Testament. Elijah is the representative of the Prophets in the Old Testament. The purpose of their presence is to reveal that Jesus is the Messiah whom the Law and Prophets pointed to. Finally, the Father confirms all of this by declaring Him as His Son and giving authority to His teaching; “ . . . listen to him.” My personal application must be to bow my life in praise to Jesus the Messiah. Jesus is the God of the universe! He created all things that exist. He upholds the universe by the word of his power. What fool will not worship Him? Secondly, I must obey Jesus. God the Father says to listen to him. Implied in this command to listen is the command to obey. Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth. I must obey all that He commanded.