The historic Jesus did not begin at His birth 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem. Scholars note the period of time Jesus was on the earth as history for our time, which is correct, therefore the term ‘the historic Jesus.’ True, the history of Jesus’ life and ministry on earth started on the night He was born, but the Biblical Jesus has a history that never began, yet it is still history. (I don’t understand it, either) Jesus never had a beginning, that is why He was able to claim to the Jews, ‘before Abraham was even born, I AM!’ (Jn.8:58 nlt)
The people knew what He meant because they picked up stones to stone Him for blasphemy. Jesus claimed to be God. The apostle John wrote concerning the deity of Jesus, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God.” (Jn.1:1-2 nlt) John is, with certainty, equating the ‘Word’ with Jesus. They are one and the same. John later writes in chapter 1, “So the Word became human and made his home among us.” (Jn.1:14 nlt) No doubt, John is referring to Jesus Christ. The Word is Jesus. The Word is God.
So, what does this have to do with us today. Our belief in Christ is to be more than doing the good deeds Jesus did and commanded us to do. Do them, yes, but also understand who He truly is and why He came. He gave up heaven’s glories to be born into this world to save those who will believe on Him. He paid an awful price, which was our debt, but he did it willingly. The historic Jesus is the one and only Jesus, God the Son, from eternity past who had one mission in which all His commandments flow. “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.10:45 nlt)
“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.
“Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, ‘Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?’” Mark 4:38 NLT
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Our study this week in the book of Mark reveals an undeniable truth. Jesus is both a man and God the Son. Believers, unbelievers, and theologians have debated for centuries including our current day the deity of Jesus. There are many people of faith who insist Jesus was a good man, a prophet, a teacher, a miracle worker, healer, and a man of love, but He was not God. Perhaps, you may be one with such beliefs. Hopefully, this short passage of scripture will change your mind, or get you thinking through it with the Holy Spirit’s guidance. We will see Scripture presenting the truth of who Jesus really is. It’s undeniable!
After a full day of teaching with His disciples by His side, Jesus suggests they go across the lake to the other side. The eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee was the area of the Gerasenes. There were no large cities in that region which meant fewer people. No doubt, Jesus was looking for some much-needed rest. I’m sure the disciples were mentally exhausted from all of Jesus’ teaching as one listening to a college professor’s lectures for hours. The disciples took Jesus’ advice and headed for the boat but take note some people followed them. “So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).” (Mk.4:36 nlt)
Scripture says a fierce storm came up shortly after their departure. Violent storms were not uncommon on the Sea of Galilee. The lake was 690 ft below sea level surrounded by mountains. Warm humid air rising from the lake collided with the cool Mediterranean air making its way through the narrow mountain passages causing a whirlwind effect much like a hurricane. Mark is very descriptive as he captures the effect of the hurricane like winds, “High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.” (Mk.4:37 nlt) Even for experienced fishermen, which some of the disciples were, this was a storm that would sink their boat.
We all go through storms in life, some of them with the potential to sink us. Storms occur even when we are following the Lord’s leading. It seems unlikely, at least in our minds, that God would lead us into a storm, but He did just that leading His disciples into a storm as they left for a mini vacation across the lake. Storms are a part of life in a fallen world, but take heart, Jesus has overcome the world. (Jn.16:33)
Imagine trying to sleep during a violent storm in the middle of a lake. There is loud thunder and streaks of lightning, and the boat is rocking from side to side with water splashing over filling the boat with water. The Bible says Jesus was asleep. Mark notes our Lord’s humanity. “Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion.” (Mk.4:38 nlt) Jesus was so tired and exhausted that even a violent storm couldn’t wake Him. But frantic disciples fearful for their lives were able to wake Him. Jesus heard the cries those who needed Him, His disciples, His followers. We too can be comforted knowing that Jesus hears our cries when we call out to Him.
When awaken, Jesus immediately rebukes the storm and says to the waves to be still. ‘Silence, Be still!’ He silences the storm, and the waves dissipate at once. There was no gradual clearing of the skies as the cold front moved through. No, it was immediate. So miraculous and terrifying was this event the disciples were more afraid now than during the storm, saying to each other, “Who is this man? Even the wind and waves obey him!” (Mk.4:41 ntl) The Ryrie Study Bible notes, “Though not comprehending fully who Jesus was, they knew He was greater than they thought.”
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Jesus did rebuke the disciples for not having faith. Though Jesus was sleeping, if the disciples had faith in God, they had no reason to fear. God the Father was aware of their troubles and God the Son was with them in the boat. Jesus proved His power over nature by calming the storm to nothing. He is Lord over all creation. The apostle Paul writes, “Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation.” (Col.1:15 nlt) Jesus did indeed proved His deity by showing He is Lord over all creation. He proved His humanity by His need for rest when wearied from exhaustion while on this earth, giving us encouragement that He not only understands our needs but is able to care for them because He is God.
“So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Mark 2:10a NLT
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Jesus had become a popular figure with the Jewish people as we saw in last week’s Biblical Insights. This week Jesus becomes a polarizing figure with the Jewish leaders, the teachers of the Law. Jesus finished His first tour through Galilee and returned to Capernaum. Scripture says the news spread quickly that He was home. People of celebrity status find it difficult to return home without a big fanfare or with news leaking out. Jesus was indeed well-known. Remember He was forced to go outside the city to continue His ministry due to the crowds, and He has now returned home with His disciples. Most likely Jesus stayed in Peter’s home while in Capernaum. It would become Jesus’ ministry headquarters. Capernaum was convenient as it was centrally located with direct access to the Sea of Galilee.
It didn’t take long for Peter’s home to be filled with people wanting to see Jesus for healing and to hear Him teach. There was no more room in the house and an overflow crowd was assembling outside reminiscent of today’s concert venues and speaking events of famous people. While Jesus was preaching, four men arrived carrying their paralyzed friend on a mat. There was no way into the house due to the crowd, but they were determined to get their friend to Jesus for his paralytic condition was severe. There was only one thing to do, if they couldn’t get in by going through the door, they would go through the roof.
“They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head. Then they lowered the man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus.” (Mk.2:4 nlt) Palestinian houses of that day had a flat roof that were used for relaxation in the cool of the day and sleeping during hot nights. They had an outside staircase which led up to the roof. The roof was made with a thick layer of clay baked by the sun, then covered with mats and branches across wooden beams. The four men saw their opportunity to help their friend and proceeded up the staircase to the roof.
Once on the roof, they dug a hole through the clay large enough to lower the paralytic down in front of Jesus. Jesus recognized that these men, including the paralytic, had the faith the He could heal the man physically. But Jesus took care of the most pressing need first. The forgiveness of sins for salvation. “Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven.’” (Mk.2:5 nlt) Many Jews believed that one’s illness, especially severe, was because one’s sins. Once Jesus heals the man of his paralysis, which only God can do, they could not deny that He could forgive sins. But the Jewish leaders did just that.
The Jewish leaders thought to themselves Jesus was committing blasphemy, for only God could forgive sins. Jewish theology taught that even the Messiah could not forgive sins, so indeed, Jesus was a blasphemer in their eyes, He was claiming deity. Jesus asked them, “Why do you question this in your hearts? Is it easier to say to the paralyzed man ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk’?” (Mk.2:8b-9 nlt) It may be easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven’ but when the paralytic gets up and walks, proof that Jesus healed him, it is proof that Jesus has the power to forgive sins as well.
“Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!’ And the man jumped up, grabbed his mat, and walked out through the stunned onlookers. (Mk.2:10b-12a nlt) The man came into the house through the roof laying on a mat and went out walking through the front door to the amazement of those around. The paralytic was completely healed, which no one could deny. It was another one of Jesus’ instantaneous healings. This miracle healing along with Jesus proving His deity intensified the conflict between Jesus and the Jewish leaders. It put the leaders in conflict with Jewish people, for the people “were all amazed and praised God, exclaiming, ‘We’ve never seen anything like this before!’” (Mk.2:12b nlt) A Biblical Insight for us is, ‘preaching the truth about the deity of Jesus Christ is sure to find conflict especially in our day.’ May we continue to be faithful and proclaim Jesus is God the Son. For Jesus said, “So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” (Mk.2:10a nlt)
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).” Matthew 1:23 ESV
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There are many religions in the world today. Most of them serve and worship a god in some form or another. Others see this world as all there is and see themselves as gods. Most religions work towards entrance into the afterlife, whatever that looks like even though they can’t be sure if they’ll make it. There is only religion that I know of where God came to be with us and made it possible for us to be with Him forever in the afterlife. That religion, if you allow me to use the term, is Christianity.
The gospel writer Matthew quotes from Isaiah the prophet concerning the birth of Christ. “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Is.7:14 kjv) Matthew confirms the meaning of ‘Immanuel’ as ‘God with us.’ Christianity is also the only religion where God is a ‘triune God,’ three persons in one. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. Three in one. God the Son, Jesus Christ, left His heavenly glories to be with us and take on sin at the cross of Calvary. The apostle Paul says it best, “(Jesus) emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” (Ph.2:7-8 esv)
No other religion on earth has a God who came down to rescue sinners paying the penalty for their sins against Him. But Christ did just that, and like John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (kjv) God’s plan of salvation is spelled out for us in the Bible, and it started with God with us. Christ came to us on Christmas. If you haven’t gone to Him for salvation what better day is there than today! It will be a Merry Christmas!!
“Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death.” Matthew 26:59 ESV
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Caiaphas was the high priest in Jesus’ day. He was the head of the whole council of Jewish leaders. They were seeking to find an accusation against Jesus to put Him to death. A guilty verdict was already in from the leaders. They now had to find evidence to support their decision. Not finding any credible evidence Caiaphas finally asked Jesus outright, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.” (Mt.26:63 b esv) Jesus answered He was and was guilty as charged of blasphemy by the rulers, that is if He wasn’t who He said He was.
You may find the title of this devotional ‘with whom do you stand, with Caiaphas or Christ?’ insulting. I insulted myself by asking the question. We can’t imagine ourselves making false accusations about Jesus or denying Him in any way. Doing anything intentionally deceitful to harm His name or hurt Him would be unthinkable. But are we capable of unintentionally, and without thinking, giving in to the pressure of the world system and denying Him by not defending Him at every turn?
The world today views Jesus as a historical figure. More people than not accept the fact of a historical Jesus who walked the earth two thousand years ago. The separation comes when asserting this Jesus was more than a good man, teacher, and philosopher, but God the Son the second person in the trinity. Scores of people, even so-called Christian religious leaders of our day, discount that Jesus is God the Son denying the truth of scripture and bowing to the idols of watered-down Christianity of unity, love, peace, and inclusion.
Leaders of watered-down Christianity and those who followed them have it half right. Jesus is indeed all about unity, love, peace, and inclusion. But the missing half is the acknowledgement of sin and the need to repent and confess. Jesus provided more than an example to follow on how to live. He provided the only way on how to live righteously as a child of God. Jesus provided the only way of salvation and eternal life by His sacrifice on the cross of Calvary. Only one who was perfect without sin, not just a good man, is capable to take away the sin of the world. We are all in need of having our sins removed, and all the unity, love, peace, and inclusion will never accomplish that.
Our modern-day world with watered-down Christianity is standing with Caiaphas denying that Jesus is the Son of God. So again, I’ll ask myself the question, ‘with whom do I stand, with Caiaphas or Christ?’ How about you?
“David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet.”’ Mark 12:36 ESV
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“The Lord said to my Lord.” Does this statement sound confusing to you, perhaps even contradictory? Confusing to most of us without explanation, but it is certainly not contradictory. During Jesus’s final week before His crucifixion, known as Passion Week, He was in constant battles with the Jewish scribes and the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the day. Jesus taught in the temple every day before those who came to hear Him. Most were astonished at His teaching hanging on to every word He spoke. This obviously angered the religious leaders as they saw their power and influence eroding away from someone who claimed to be the Son of God, the Messiah. If these leaders had carefully studied the Old Testament, they would have known that Jesus was right, He was the Son of God, the Messiah.
They were constantly trying to trip up Jesus with their questions. Jesus turns the tables on them and asks them a question. He asks a question from a familiar passage in Psalms explaining that Jesus existed before David, proving His deity, proving He is eternal, and proving He is the Son of God. Jewish teaching was and is correct that the Messiah will be the son of David, yet David refers to Him as his Lord. Jesus asks them, ‘“What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?’ They said to him, ‘The son of David.’ He said to them, ‘How it then that David, in the Spirit, is calls him Lord, saying, The Lord said to my Lord………If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?”’ (Mt. 22:42-45 esv) The point being that the Messiah is both divine and human. He is David’s son and He is David’s Lord.
An ordinary man, no matter how good he was, or how well he taught, or how well he lived as an example to others with love and compassion could ever be an adequate substitute for our sin. It had to be a perfect man, without sin. Jesus Christ who died on Calvary’s cross was indeed the divine Son of God in human flesh. The deity of Christ is vital to our understanding His purpose for coming, understanding our sin nature, and understanding God’s plan of Salvation for those who trust in Christ. As John the Baptist proclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (Jn 1:29b)
Word for the Soul 