“Two-thirds of Americans say they believe Jesus physically rose from the dead, with nearly half of Americans saying they “strongly” believe in the historical event that forms the core of Easter, according to a Lifeway Research survey.” (1)
I suppose the above statement could be considered good news that over half the people in the United States believe Jesus rose from the dead. But the bad new is 113 million people in America do not believe in the resurrection of Christ. Even among some Christians today, the resurrection is not fully embraced of actually occurring. What many fail to realize, even a few Christians, is that without Jesus’ resurrection there is no hope for any of us. The apostle Paul wrote, “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” (1Cor.15:17 niv) If we are still in our sins there is no resurrection for us and we are dead, to remain dead, and sure of a Christless eternity.
We are all sons and daughters of Adam with our sin nature punishable by death, physically and spiritually, but Paul continues to write, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1Cor.15:20-22 niv) We are made alive through Jesus’ resurrection. Our salvation and eternal life demand that Jesus both died and rose from the dead. Don’t celebrate an incomplete Easter. We are made alive in Christ because of His resurrection, our only hope.
“Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, ‘Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!’ For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” John 4:37-38 NLT
It is springtime in Pennsylvania, and I once again started my weekly chore of mowing our lawn. I couldn’t help but notice the brown patches still part of our lawn from last year’s drought. In fact, we are not totally out of the woods yet, needing a few more healthy rain events. Water is essential for growth and life itself. The rain we had caused the grass to grow in areas not severely affected by lack of rain last summer. But much more water and sun are needed to bring the entire lawn back to complete health.
Our spiritual lives can become dry as a drought driven patch of grass. Just as water is essential for our very lives, so is the spiritual water Jesus offers us essential for our spiritual lives. We first need it to save our souls from spiritual death to eternal life. As Jesus told the woman at the well, “But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” (Jn.4:14 nlt) Jesus is the spiritual water we need for salvation and eternal life. He offers it to us freely. Jesus is authorized to do so for He paved the way by dying on the cross for our sins recognized this Good Friday and rising from the dead on Easter morning to secure our eternal life.
Spiritual water is also needed for our souls to be refreshed daily by Jesus through prayer and reading His Word. As Christians our eternal home may be secured, but we still need daily spiritual water to help us grow, be fruitful, and not become a dried-up patch of grass. It is easy to develop a thirst for the things of the world, but soon we find out it never satisfies, yet we keep drinking from the fountain without quenching our souls. The Lord Jesus has the water to guarantee our salvation and to quench our thirsty souls. Why not take a drink from Jesus’ fountain today.
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.” Matthew 23:37 NLT
Have you thought about the thoughts Jesus has about you? He does have thoughts about each of us. Jesus knows what we think about Him, good and bad. You may say, ‘how could we have bad thoughts about Jesus?’ Well, there are several ways. Using Jesus’ name in a way that doesn’t praise Him but expresses your anger is one way. Finding His Words in the New Testament as subject to debate or not believing them casts doubt if you really believe who He is. That would be a bad thought. Perhaps avoiding conversations about Him among friends as to not come across ‘as one of those.’ And yes, many of us do have good endearing thoughts about the one who saved us from our sins.
Jesus thinks about us all the time. There is never a moment we are not on His mind. We know this from the example He left us in His thoughts for the people of Jerusalem. Jesus rode into the city that first Palm Sunday under a huge fanfare but it wasn’t genuine for most of them. He was concerned for the people of the city for their lack of understanding who He was. After rebuking the Pharisees once again Jesus cried out, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God’s messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn’t let me.” (Mt.23:37 nlt) Even though Israel was wrong about so many things including the ancient prophets, Jesus wanted to shelter, protect them, and save them. But as Jesus said, they wouldn’t let Him.
Let us rest assured Jesus thinks about us the same way. His concern for us is the same as it was for the people of Jerusalem. Even if we have blasphemed Him and have no regard for His Word or those who preach it. Even if we constantly are going our own way and doing our own thing because it feels right, Jesus’ thoughts are the same towards us, to gather us as a hen protects her chicks. Why don’t we let Him carry out His thoughts about us once again this week to shelter, protect, and save us for we were also on His mind that first Good Friday on the cross at Calvary.
“The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Hosanna in the highest heaven!’” Matthew 21:9 NIV
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This week we enter Holy Week (Passion Week) as is referred to by Christians across the world. It starts with the celebration of Palm Sunday when Christ made His triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem. Perhaps you attended services yesterday where this was the sermon for the week. It began with a light of freedom on Sunday for the followers of Jesus who laid down palm branches before Him as He rode into Jerusalem. It ended in darkness for those followers who were looking for a king to overthrow Rome and grant them independence and economic freedom. But that is not the whole story and Jesus came to earth.
The story begins in the gospel of John chapter 1 where it says, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it……The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (Jn.1:4-5, 9-11 niv) John wrote the ‘true light’ was coming into the world to give us light in this dark world. All of us in the world have scales of darkness over our eyes because of sin. We can only see darkness around us in this world in which we live controlled by the evil one. Jesus came as the light of the world to remove the scales from our eyes, taking us from darkness into the light and granting us salvation through His death, burial, and resurrection.
The crowd laying down their cloaks and palm branches had it half right when they shouted, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David.’ Jesus is the Son of David who came in the name of the Lord, but He came to save mankind from the darkness of sin, not freedom from evil governments and the darkness of the world. We live in a dark world, but every Christian has the light of Christ within them to display before others and to lead us in the direction He wants us to go.
The Lord Jesus calls us His friends. If you have accepted Him as your Lord and savior you could not ask for a better, closer friend. Jesus gave His disciples an example of great love and true friendship when He said to them, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn.15:13 esv) History has provided us with stories of people who have sacrificed their lives to save someone from harm or even death. We thank God for their selflessness and remember them for the true heroes they are. They were a true friend when a true friend was in need.
Jesus lived out that example of a true friend while He was on earth right up to the end of His earthly life. Jesus laid down His life for all of us He calls friends, all of us who are in desperate need of saving grace only He can provide by taking our punishment at the cross. No, we couldn’t ask for a better friend. Of all the friends we have in this world, none can compare with Jesus who saved us from eternal damnation and separation from Him and heaven forever. He can help us like no other friend is able with the problems and concerns we have in this world. Jesus is taking care of the here and now and has secured our eternal destiny for those who believe in Him. Jesus has taken care of everything for us. That’s what friends are for!
What a Friend we have in Jesus, All our sins and griefs to bear! What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer! O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer!
What’s in a name? Well, that depends on whose name it is. Reference to someone’s name will bring a visual picture of them to your mind. Names of well-known people will draw up images both good and bad as to their character, and their achievements or non-achievements. Being associated with a name will likely put you in the same boat of the name in question. It’s called ‘guilty by association.’ So, it is wise to keep our name free from scandals and from associations with those whose names recall bad images.
What about the name of Christ? Luke writes in the book of Acts, “God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.” (4:12 nlt) His name, Jesus Christ, is the only way of salvation and assurance of heaven after this life. Being associated with that name would be a good thing, and I trust that you are. However, there are people who would disagree that the name of Jesus is the only way to heaven, which puts Christians in a bad light being associated with Jesus’ name. Jesus, Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (Jn.14:6 nlt) Being associated with Jesus may tarnish your name a bit if you’re totally committed to Him and His Words.
But where are we to go as Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, to whom would we go? You have the words that give eternal life. We believe, and we know you are the Holy One of God.” (Jn.6:68-69 nlt) Peter held fast and stayed true being associated with the name of Jesus as we see in our reading today in Acts 3. It was in the name of Jesus, Peter was able to heal the lame man, and it is the same name of Jesus that is the only name able to heal our sin sick soul unto eternal life through faith in Him. It’s OK to be guilty by association in the name of Jesus Christ. It is the name by which we must be saved.
“A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” Mark 6:4 NLT
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There have been many hometown heroes throughout the centuries. Famous artists have painted their priceless artwork in familiar surroundings of their neighborhood. Renown composers from Bach and Beethoven to Lennon and McCartney started composing the world’s masterpieces in their small rustic villages and small towns. Many Presidents and foreign leaders have been memorialized in their hometowns. People from all walks of life who made a name for themselves have been recognized and hailed in their communities as achieving great success. Not so with Jesus of Nazareth. He was rejected by those who knew Him best.
Last week in our Biblical Insights in the book of Mark, Jesus was back in Capernaum where He performed two miracles. After raising Jarius’ daughter from the dead, “Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown.” (Mk.6:1 nlt) Jesus was about to begin His third and final tour through the Galilean region. He returns to His hometown of Nazareth 20 miles southwest of Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee. This is not a planned family visit but a preaching ministry event. It is the start of Jesus’ and the disciples preaching tour through Galilee.
As was Jesus’ custom, He observed the Sabbath by attending worship services in the local synagogue. While there Jesus began to teach, and the on-lookers were astonished. Never did they hear such teaching and from someone who they knew but knew Him as a local carpenter. Even though they heard Him with their own ears, they found it hard to believe. “Then they scoffed, ‘He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James, Joseph, Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.’ They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.” (Mk.6:3 nlt) The people took offense that Jesus would elevate Himself to such a high position with no formal religious or academic training. He was on their level, a local layman, ‘how dare He raise Himself above us.’
The peoples’ reference to Him as the ‘son of Mary’ could very well have been an insult to Jesus. It could be possible that Joseph passed away, as he is not mentioned, but it may also be a shot at the legitimacy of His birth. To say that one is the son of the mother is to say we don’t know who the father is. The townspeople in their ignorance and snippy remarks missed an opportunity to get to know the Jesus they thought they knew. Jesus was amazed at their unbelief and did no miracles in Nazareth except for a few people He healed. (Mk.6:5) It was not that He couldn’t perform any miracles, but in an atmosphere of such unbelief Jesus didn’t have many opportunities as most people were offended by Him. John MacArthur notes, “Miracles belong among those who were ready to believe.” There were many who simply would not believe. It must have hurt the Lord Jesus to announce, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” (Mk.6:4 nlt)
Jesus did not let this interrupt His mission or the mission He was about to send the disciples on. Neither should we let the way we are received by those closest to us to influence whether we continue to live the Christian life. Jesus knows what it is like to be rejected by His own family for the sake of the gospel, so He knows how you feel if it happens to you. Jesus continued going from village to village reaching out to people. We shouldn’t allow anything to slow us down, but to continue with the mission He gave us.
“And he called his twelve disciples together and began sending them out two by two, giving them authority to cast out evil spirits.” (Mk.6:7 nlt) Jesus gets His disciples involved to go out on their own and preach the gospel. He has taught them as they gathered around Him. They have observed His preaching and the miracles He performed on the road, now it was time for them to get some on-the-job training. This was a big step for them, and the Lord emphasized how big a step it was in the instructions He gave them.
Jesus told them to take nothing along with them except the common walking stick in case attack. That alone calls for tremendous faith. Whatever God calls us to do requires faith on our part to be successful for the task. We shouldn’t doubt thinking we can’t do it. If the Lord is sending us out, we can do it. The disciples were also told not to take any food, no overnight bag or extra clothing, and no money. Jesus did allow them to wear sandals for their feet. The Lord Jesus was training them to increase their faith for future days when they would go out preaching the message of salvation after His death, burial, and resurrection. They were to trust God completely to meet their needs.
The disciples were instructed not to be fickle with the accommodation provided for them, but to show appreciation and stay in that one place as long as they were in that city. Jesus gave them one final important instruction, “But if any place refuses to welcome you or listen to you, shake its dust from your feet as you leave to show that you have abandoned those people to their fate.” (Mk.6:11 nlt) Strict Jews in that day shook the dust off their feet whenever they left a pagan territory. Rejecting Jesus’ gospel of salvation is equal to a pagan society who rejects the only true God. Shaking off the dust is certainly in order. It also absolves them from any further responsibility after making known the manner of salvation.
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Jesus did not say following Him would be a cakewalk. There will be hard times, long roads ahead to travel, rejection even from loved ones, but it is a life of tremendous joy when following Him in obedient faith. Jesus guarantees it.
“And he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over’……But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, ‘Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.’” Mark 5:34, 36 NLT
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Is just having faith good enough? The phrase ‘have faith’ gets tossed around as if it’s a cure-all for what ails you. Seriously, if you are in the habit of using that phrase, what is your basis for using it? Is it hope, a feeling, something mysterious, or is it an assurance you have and if so, what is the basis for that assurance? The world defines faith as complete trust or confidence in something or somebody. I cannot disagree with that for that is what faith is. Now back to the first question. Is just having faith good enough? Well, yes, it depends on where your faith is placed. This week we have two stories were knowing where to place your faith is a matter of life or death.
After Jesus’ short stay in the Gerasenes region where He healed a demon-possessed man He headed back across the lake to Capernaum. As usual a crowd had formed rather quickly on the shore after His arrival with the help of old-fashion social media, word of mouth on foot. A synagogue official, a layman similar to deacons and elders today, was one of first people to greet him dropping to his knees and crying out, “My little daughter is dying, Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live.” (Mk.5:23 nlt) The official, Jarius by name, knew his daughter was near death and Jesus was her only hope. Jarius most likely heard Jesus speak in the synagogue when Jesus visited, and he knew of His miracles. Jarius placed his faith in the only one capable of healing His daughter.
Jesus agreed to go with Jarius and so did the crowds as they forced their way to get closer to Him as they traveled to Jarius’ home. In among the crowd was a woman who was severely sick with constant bleeding from an incurable disease. “She had suffered a great deal from many doctors, and over the years she had spent everything she had to pay them, but she had gotten no better. In fact, she had gotten worse.” (Mk.5:26 nlt) She too, like Jarius’ daughter was in a desperate situation although her death was not imminent it was certain without help from above. This woman, whose name we don’t know, was one of the many to had seen and heard about Jesus. She knew He could stop the bleeding. Her faith was so strong in Him knowing if she could only reach out to touch the hem of His garment she would be healed. And that is what she did, “Immediately the bleeding stopped, and she could feel in her body that she had been healed of her terrible condition.” (Mk.5:29 nlt) With so many people crowding around Jesus bumping into Him and touching Him, He specifically felt the power of healing faith go from Him to someone. It was an immediate healing for the woman.
Jesus then asked who touched Him. The disciples must have had a puzzled look on their faces when they answered, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’” (Mk.5:31 nlt) But Jesus knew someone did and kept looking around until she came forward. Jesus didn’t pursue this to call out the woman, but to afford her the chance to praise God and tell others what God has for her. Jesus was not going to let this opportunity go by without recognizing her publicly. She had been a social outcast for so many years, and it’s time to turn the tables. Those who evade her will now see she is no longer considered to be ‘unclean’ but whole and fully healed. Jesus confirmed this by saying, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.” (Mk.5:34 nlt)
I guess you can say in a way, it was a hope, but a hope in Jesus. It was a feeling in that she felt it instantly. It certainly felt mysterious, but it was the power of God touching her and stopping the bleeding. We can say for sure; she based her faith on Jesus, that is where she had the assurance of being healed by putting her trust and confidence in Him.
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We now go back to Jarius who has just witnessed miraculous healing before his eyes. But as they proceed to Jarius’ home, he received news that his daughter had died. In hearing this Jesus encourages Jarius by saying, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.” (Mk.5:36 nlt) Jesus is reminding Jarius of the faith he had when he first approached Jesus about his daughter’s condition. There is nothing impossible for Jesus to do, even raising the dead.
Jesus suddenly stops the crowd from following Him and took with Him only Peter, James, and John the rest of the way to Jarius’ home. They were greeted by weeping and wailing as professional mourners were already called in, as was the custom, when a death occurred. Burial would soon take place in the Jewish culture as it is still practiced today. But Jesus would have no part of it. “He went inside and asked, ‘Why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead; she’s only asleep.’” (Mk.5:39 nlt) He knew what He was going to do as the people laughed and ridiculed Him. So, Jesus sent these people out of the house for their unbelief, and took the girl’s mother, father, and the disciples to the girl’s room.
They entered the room and, “Holding her hand, he said to her, ‘Talitha koum’ which means ‘Little girl, get up!’” (Mk.5:41 nlt) The twelve-year-old got up immediately and Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Jesus not only raised her from the dead but made sure she had something to eat. Jesus’ reference to ‘she’s only sleeping’ is used to describe her death was only temporary. He was going to raise her, and the people who laughed will know it is a true miracle because they knew she was pronounced dead and funeral arrangements were being made.
Jesus performed two miracles concerning life and death in which faith was a factor. Not in our faith itself but in having faith in the one who can perform miracles. We may not need to exercise our faith in a life-or-death manner, but if we do, or when we do, it is good to know where to place our faith. Yes, it is OK to just have faith as long as it is in Jesus Christ, God the Son.
Perhaps you have heard the saying, ‘the only Jesus some people will see is the one they see in you.’ It is very true. Those who are lost in need of salvation may have heard of Jesus, even gone to church on occasion, but don’t know Him as their savior. They never had that personal experience that is necessary to knowing Jesus; to know they are lost, a sinner in need of forgiveness, and assurance of eternal life.
Will they be drawn to you when the Holy Spirit begins to convict their heart? Will they see a true Christ follower? Will the name of Jesus you proclaim be evident to the wandering seeking soul by your speech and conduct. Who will they see? Will they see the savior of your soul, the one who changed your life and gave it meaning, or will your demeanor show a passive Jesus, one who is inactive and lifeless? Be careful not represent Jesus in name only, and not His Great name! If Jesus is alive in you, He cannot remain hidden, or your flesh will take over shading His light from being seen to the world.
The sound of Jesus’ great name is backed up by the evident change in those who have come to know Him. They know not only His great name, but Jesus Himself, who died for them and is their healer, redeemer, Lord, and King. When others see this change in our lives, and it is consistent, never wavering no matter what our circumstances, they will be able to see what a great name is the name of Jesus. Jesus’ name is great, because He is great, may people see His great name in us.
“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.
Word for the Soul 