Tag: Healing

Bible Studies

“A Mother’s Faith” The Gospel of Jesus Christ: the book of Mark

Loring Schultz

Read: Mark 7:24-30 NLT – The Faith of a Gentile Woman – Then – Bible Gateway

“She replied, ‘That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.’” Mark 7:28 NLT

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This week in our Sunday Biblical Insights we stumble across a difficult passage mostly misunderstood, or at least hard to understand. But in the final analysis it is the gospel of Jesus Christ available to all people through the faith of everyone who believes as exemplified through a mother’s faith. We left Jesus last week as He was again answering questions from the Pharisees who had come from Jerusalem to the Gennesaret region. Crowds were following Jesus everywhere He went, and this was unsettling for the religious rulers of the day. After answering the Pharisees and teaching the crowds Jesus leaves the area going north to the region of Tyre.

“Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know which house he was staying in, but he couldn’t keep it a secret.” (Mk.7:24 nlt) Jesus’ goal for this trip was to get some much-needed rest by getting away from the crowds and the Pharisees and to have quality time to teach His disciples. Tyre was 30 miles Northwest of Capernaum in Phoenicia, which is modern-day Lebanon. As is the case, wherever Jesus traveled, even into Gentile territory, it could not be kept a secret for long. Soon, people knew He was in town. Scripture says a Syrophoenician women who had heard about Jesus came and fell at His feet. She was a Gentile of Syrian descent, a descendant of the Canaanites, who spoke Greek. Her daughter was possessed by an evil spirit, and she came begging Jesus to cast it out.

The woman was begging, repeatedly asking Jesus to cast the demon out of her daughter. Jesus’ answer to her was, “First I should feed the children—my own family, the Jews. It isn’t right to take food from the children and throw it to the dogs.” (Mk.7:27 nlt) On the surface, this sounds like a derogatory remark. Many Jews of that day would call Gentiles ‘dogs’ out of disrespect, but that is far from what Jesus was saying. The term for ‘dogs’ that is used is a little dog, or household pet. This was not a reference to the wild dogs that roamed throughout the region. What Jesus is saying is He came to reach His own people, the Jews, first. As we have seen throughout this gospel Jesus had been going mainly throughout Jewish territories. This is the deepest He has gone into a Gentile area, but as was noted His popularity always precedes Him. There would be day when God’s blessings are also extended to the Gentiles as well. Jesus was testing the mother’s faith. He was comparing the ‘little dogs’ to Gentiles. Jesus’ imagery of the food table within a home point to salvation is of the Jews and the Gentiles are part of the household and are not excluded. The mother got it, and it is displayed in her answer to the Lord.

“She replied, ‘That’s true, Lord, but even the dogs under the table are allowed to eat the scraps from the children’s plates.’” (Mk.7:28 nlt) The mother responded with a worshipful attitude calling Jesus, ‘Lord’. This is the only time Jesus is addressed as Lord in the gospel of Mark, and it comes from a Gentile woman. She had faith in Christ for who He is, and what He can do for her daughter, realizing she herself was sinful and unworthy of blessings. All she asked for were the scraps and the crumbs that fell from the children’s hands. This mother knew she and her daughter were included in God’s salvation plan and Jesus can heal her daughter.

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Jesus commended her for her answer and sent home saying. “‘Now go home, for the demon has left your daughter.’ And when she arrived home, she found her little girl lying quietly in bed, and the demon was gone.’” (Mk.7:29-30 nlt) When this mother heard about Jesus, she had faith that He would be able to cast out the evil spirit from her daughter. May this mother’s faith be our faith. She had faith in the only one who would be able to heal her daughter and her own soul. It is Jesus Christ the Son of God who came not only to cast our demons but to save both Jew and Gentile who put their faith in Him by accepting Him as Lord and savior.

Bible Studies

“Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man” The Gospel of Jesus Christ: the book of Mark

Loring Schultz

Read: Mark 5:1-20 NLT – Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Man – So – Bible Gateway

“A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid.” Mark 5:15 NLT

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Jesus and His disciples finally reached the other side of the Sea of Galilee after a stormy night. They arrived in the region of the Gerasenes. This area just east of the Sea of Galilee was predominately a Gentile area. We learned last week of Jesus’ desire for rest. This region, which was not very populated and mainly a Gentile region, would be a welcome break from the large crowds that followed Him. But no sooner was Jesus out of the boat and on to the shore a demon-possessed man recognized Him. It was the demons who possessed him that recognized Jesus, for they knew who He was, the Son of God.

This man had been exiled from the villagers and was living among the tombs, a burial place inside the caves. These burial caves provided shelter to the poor and were frequently used. His demonic condition forced him away from society. He was bound by the people around him for their safety, but it was becoming impossible to restrain him even with shackles and chains. “Whenever he was put into chains and shackles—as he often was—he snapped the chains from his wrists and smashed the shackles. No one was strong enough to subdue him.” (Mk.5:4 nlt) The man would howl unearthly screams while cutting himself to pieces using flint with sharp jagged edges.

The man came up to Jesus and bowed before Him saying, “Why are you interfering with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In the name of God, I beg you, don’t torture me!” (Mk.5:7 nlt) Again, it is the demons, or the chief spokesman representing them begging Jesus not to torment them. Jesus demanded what is your name, the demons replied ‘legion’. Jesus wanted to draw attention to the condition of the man and the evil he was going to be relieved from. There were many demons inside the man. A Roman legion was 6,000 men. This brings understanding to the strength the man had in breaking the chains from his hands and crushing the shackles on his feet. The horrifying screams from the tombs of 6,000 demons inside the man would, as one commentor put it, ‘destroyed the divine likeness with which man was created. “

The demons knew they were about to be punished. They were standing before Jesus, God the Son, who had the power to destroy them by sending them to their eternal punishment into the abyss. “There happened to be a large herd of pigs feeding on the hillside nearby.” (Mk.5:11 nlt) They requested that Jesus permit them to enter the herd of 2,000 pigs. “So Jesus gave them permission. The evil spirits came out of the man and entered the pigs, and the entire herd of about 2,000 pigs plunged down the steep hillside into the lake and drowned in the water.” (Mk.5:13 nlt) The amazement just witnessed by the herdsmen caused them to quickly flee and tell what they had seen. People were soon coming from all directions the herdsmen had traveled with the news. Jesus’ peaceful rest was put on hold again.

There may be times when we are looking for that special quiet time only for it to be interrupted. It happens to all of us. It happened to Jesus. When these times occur, we need to consider them as divine appointments, for that is what they are. The Lord knows we need rest, but He also has more important things in mind that He wants us to take care of first. Jesus had a divine appointment to help a man with a legion of demons tormenting him. We may not be helping a demon-possessed person, but to them it may feel that way. So, put your rest on hold and do what is necessary at the moment.

“A crowd soon gathered around Jesus, and they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons. He was sitting there fully clothed and perfectly sane, and they were all afraid. And the crowd began pleading with Jesus to go away and leave them alone.” (Mk.5:15, 17 nlt) There were several reasons for the people being afraid and asking Jesus to leave their region. The vast number of demons that entered the pigs showed the immensity of what evil was inside the demon-possessed man. They were possibly aware of their own ungodly lifestyle, and were afraid of Jesus’ power, and then there was the financial aspect. 2,000 pigs that were lost equals loss revenue. A side note here; noticed Jesus did not command the demons to enter the pigs, He permitted them. Satan brought about the destruction of the pigs as he continues to work havoc to this day as the Lord permits.

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The man now freed from the demons asked Jesus if he can go with Him, begging Him. Jesus told him no, but to go to his family and tell them what the Lord had done for him. In telling the man this, Jesus is again claiming His deity as God. The man went on throughout the region becoming the first evangelist to the Gentiles. Another side note as we close: Jesus doesn’t rescue us and deliver us from sin to keep it to ourselves, but to go out telling others the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Bible Studies

“The Ministry Begins” The Good News of Jesus Christ: the book of Mark

Loring Schultz

Read: Mark 1:21-45 NLT – Jesus Casts Out an Evil Spirit – Jesus – Bible Gateway

“Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach. So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.” Mark 1:21, 39 NLT

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The Good News of Jesus Christ is about to be told from Jesus Himself, for that is why he came. “We must go on to other towns as well, and I will preach to them, too. That is why I came. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mk.1:38, 10:45 nlt) Jesus’ ministry is now in in full operation after His baptism, forty days in the wilderness being tempted by Satan, and choosing four fishermen to be His disciples. “Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach.” (Mk.1:21 nlt)

Jesus begins His first of three tours through Galilee. The first stop Jesus made was to visit the local synagogue in Capernaum. It was where the Scriptures were read and studied, and God was worshiped. Jesus took advantage of the custom of having a visiting teacher speak and participate in teaching. As He began to speak, the people were amazed at His teaching compared to the local Rabbis. Jesus taught not as the other Rabbis who referred to and quoted previous Rabbinical teaching, but Jesus taught with authority, His own authority. It was not only His authoritative style, but the content of His teaching that impressed those in attendance. Jesus, the Son of God, certainly knew the Scriptures.   

Satan and his demons also knew the Scriptures and who Jesus is as was evident by the demon-possessed man among them. “Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit began shouting, ‘Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!’” (Mk.1:23-24 nlt) This demon-spirit knew Jesus was God the Son and was terrified at Jesus’ power. Jesus stopped the demon’s ranting immediately and ordered him to come out of the man. He didn’t want His identity known at this time. The demon left the man, and the people were yet in more amazement to what they just witnessed. They reasoned among themselves, ‘what kind of teaching is this, that even the demons obey Him?’ At this point, the news about Jesus spread quickly throughout Galilee.

Jesus’ act of confronting the evil spirit drew much attention which is now going to escalate even further as He is beginning to heal all those who are sick and diseased. Jesus begins by healing Simon’s mother-in-law after the meeting at the synagogue. Jesus and His disciples go to Simon’s and Andrew’s home. Finding Simon’s mother-in-law sick with a high fever, Jesus touched her, healing her. After sunset when the Sabbath was over many people from all over converged on Simon’s and Andrew’s home. “That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. The whole town gathered at the door to watch.” (Mk.1:32-33 nlt) Jesus is ministering as He predicted, ‘the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve.’

As is often the case today, we call upon Jesus to help us in our time of need. He will not deny our request but will hear us and answer in accordance with His will. How sad it is so many of us only call upon the Lord only in the case of an emergency. He is our Lord and savior when things are bad and when all is well. Jesus came to sacrifice His life to give us the ultimate healing, a soul set free, and eternal life with Him. He desires for us to have constant fellowship with Him throughout our lives here on earth and not wait until we’re with Him in glory.

Jesus valued His time in prayer with His heavenly Father. After a long day of teaching, healing, and casting out demons, Jesus rose early the next morning, probably between 3-4 am going to a secluded place to pray. It was where Jesus, the man, met His spiritual battles. Satan and his demons constantly opposed Jesus all throughout His ministry. It was also where Jesus prepared Himself with conversations with His Father for the day’s work in ministry. If Jesus needed to do this, do we have any excuse for not doing it? We need it a lot more.

While traveling through Galilee preaching in the synagogues Jesus is met by a leper who knelt before Him begging to be healed. ‘“If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,’ he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be healed!’” (Mk.1:40b-41 nlt) Leprosy was one of the most dreadful diseases during Jesus’ day. We should take note of the leper’s faith in Jesus that He could heal him. This is a testimony in Jesus’ power to heal such a terrible disease. Jesus then instructed the man to show himself to the priest to be declared clean so he could resume social contact. The priest could not deny the man was healed, and that only God had the power to cure leprosy.  Afterward the man went out and told everyone about his healing. Quickly it was impossible for Jesus to continue His ministry in the towns but needed to move out into the nearby fields around the cities. Jesus’ ministry is off to a fast start and will continue at a fast pace, for His time in preaching, teaching, healing, and casting out evil spirits is relatively short, three- and one-half years. We will pick it up next week.

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Devotionals

His Healing Hand

Loring Schultz

“But when Jesus touched her hand, the fever left her. Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.” Matthew 8:15 NLT

Many families have a tradition of gathering together after Sunday church services either in the afternoon or evening. One of my fondest childhood memories is going over to our grandparents’ house after Sunday evening services. She would always have plenty of food and snacks ready for us. It would always be a good time with my brothers, sister, and cousins, especially listening to my uncle’s jokes. The gatherings have changed over the years in different forms, over distances, and certainly not as frequent. Families today will recall their own memories of their gatherings after Church services as the tradition continues.

During Jesus’ time on earth things were not all that different. People would gather together after being at the synagogue. The gospel of Mark tells us, “After Jesus left the synagogue with James and John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home.” (Mk. 1:29) When they arrived at the home they found Peter’s mother-in-law sick with a high fever. No doubt this caused some anxious moments for the family as guests would be soon arriving. They spoke with Jesus about her condition and Jesus touched her and she was healed immediately. Scripture confirms, “Then she got up and prepared a meal for him.” (Mt. 8:15b)

Jesus’ healing hand was all that was needed to restore Peter’s mother-in-law to full health and strength. It wasn’t a gradually healing by getting her back on her feet and being able to feel one hundred percent in a couple of days. No, she was totally healed and was able to prepare a meal. Our Lord Jesus is the great physician and still works miracles of healing today according to His will. However we gather today with friends and family, as we are together may we remember His Healing Hand.