Mark 1 Jesus' authority over demons

And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God." But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
(Mark 1:21-28 ESV)

At first I was having trouble relating to this passage because as Americans we usually blind ourselves and deny the spiritual reality of demons in our world and in us. But then I thought of all the lies that I have been hearing recently about my self worth and identity. I have been letting the devil speak lies that are harmful and destructive and completely untrue:

You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
(John 8:44 ESV)

Yet Jesus is the one who speaks truth and if I hold to the gospel then God speaks all the healing truth to counter these lies I have been stuck in:

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:9, 12, 14 ESV)

By faith in Jesus I have become a son of God part of the family and a fellow heir with Christ. I am worthy and loved and forgiven again and again because I am part of Gods family.

This passage from Mark is a good reminder that Jesus has complete authority over the demons and the devil and their lies. The demons literally cry out in fear in Jesus presence. And through the Spirit Jesus gives us the same authority to cast out the lies from the devil in our lives.

So I cast out these lies about my identity and worth being wrapped in relationship and success and ministry. I cast out the lies that I am unworthy and unloved and alone in the powerful name of Jesus Christ. Instead I speak to myself the truth of the gospel that I am worthy through Christs righteousness, loved by my creator, and a son a beloved member of gods family not alone at all. God I pray you continue to speak truth and protection over me. Thank you for the ways you have already been answering that prayer.
Amen

Mark 5: Jesus' Calling, Power and our Faith

Mark 5

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man

 ¹ They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.^[a] 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. ³ This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 

 ⁶ When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. ⁷ He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” ⁸ For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

 ⁹ Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

   “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” ¹⁰ And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

 ¹¹ A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. ¹² The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” ¹³ He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

 ¹⁴ Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. ¹⁵ When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. ¹⁶ Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. ¹⁷ Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

 ¹⁸ As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. ¹⁹ Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” ²⁰ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis^[b] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman

 ²¹ When Jesus had again crossed over by boat to the other side of the lake, a large crowd gathered around him while he was by the lake. ²² Then one of the synagogue leaders, named Jairus, came, and when he saw Jesus, he fell at his feet. ²³ He pleaded earnestly with him, “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live.” ²⁴ So Jesus went with him.

   A large crowd followed and pressed around him. ²⁵ And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. ²⁶ She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. ²⁷ When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, ²⁸ because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” ²⁹ Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering.

 ³⁰ At once Jesus realized that power had gone out from him. He turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who touched my clothes?”

 ³¹ “You see the people crowding against you,” his disciples answered, “and yet you can ask, ‘Who touched me?’ ”

 ³² But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. ³³ Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. ³⁴ He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering.”

 ³⁵ While Jesus was still speaking, some people came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” they said. “Why bother the teacher anymore?”

 ³⁶ Overhearing^[c] what they said, Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.”

 ³⁷ He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. ³⁸ When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly. ³⁹ He went in and said to them, “Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.” ⁴⁰ But they laughed at him.

   After he put them all out, he took the child’s father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. ⁴¹ He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”). ⁴² Immediately the girl stood up and began to walk around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished. ⁴³ He gave strict orders not to let anyone know about this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Daniel’s Thoughts:

1. 1.    Jesus and Demons

Jesus interacts with demons frequently during his ministry. I think we can learn a lot from these interactions. First the demons come to Jesus sometimes running and fall on their knees before Jesus. The demons know Jesus for who he really is: the Son of God with power and authority. Often I think we think that the Devil and evil have power in this world. We imagine hell to be under the Devils control. But as I read through this scripture I see that demons bow before Jesus on their knees begging him not to torture them. Also Jesus in a parable about the judgement day says, “Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” If this place of eternal fire is hell then it is not where the devil reigns but his place of punishment. I think we diminish the authority of God by believing that the devil or evil have any power against the will of God. God is in control of all things. At the name of Jesus demons tremble in fear and beg. We follow a God who is lord over all creation and that includes all people and even the devil.

1. 2.    Jesus calling is different for different people

Not all people are called to follow Jesus in the same way. Many come to Jesus and ask to follow him, but he gives them a different calling. For this man who was saved from demons his calling is to tell his story to the people in the area he is from. Some people come to Jesus asking to follow him and be his disciples and he discourages them telling them of the cost (Luke 9:57-62). Yet for disciples Jesus calls fisherman, a zealot, a tax collector etc. Yet all are called to believe in him and follow him in some way. We are called to do his work for the kingdom in our own way with the gifts and opportunities given to us.

1. 3.    Faith in Jesus has power to do all things.

When people come to Jesus they are healed scripture often says by their faith. Our faith is powerful and can do all things. But only when that faith is in Jesus. Jairus came to Jesus with faith that he could heal his daughter. Yet when his daughter he believes she is beyond Jesus power. Yet Jesus says to him, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.” And Jesus calls to this girl and she rises up immediately!

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

You are Lord of all creations.

At your name every knee will bow.

All peoples

All creation

The Devil and his angels

All are under your authority.

Reveal your calling to each of us.

Thank you for the gifts and opportunites you give us

Let us serve faithfully

For we find joy in living out your calling to us.

Let us seek first your kingdom and righteousness

Faith can move mountains.

Thank you for the gift of faith.

I believe, help my unbelief.

Through you we can do all things.

I trust you Lord, help me trust you in all things.

Amen

Mark 4: Parables but Understanding from the Lord!

Mark 4

The Parable of the Sower

 ¹ Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. ² He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: ³ “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”

 ⁹ Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”

 ¹⁰ When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. ¹¹ He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 

The Parable of the Growing Seed

 ²⁶ He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

 ³³ With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. ³⁴ He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Jesus Calms the Storm

 ³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

 ⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Daniel’s Thoughts:

The seed can be seen as the gospel – the word of God the good news. The seed is spread everywhere by God and through us his followers. But, Jesus knows not all will respond to the seed to the word of the gospel. Yet he still spreads the seed abundantly and without judging the soil.

As Jesus shares the good news he speaks in parables. Yet not even Jesus’ disciples understand. That is comforting, because often I don’t understand and I am sure I miss a lot of the truth God has for me. But the Spirit will speak the truth and reveal the living word to us as we read and ask.

For example the parable about the growing seed did not make sense to me and I am not sure that it does now. But as I looked back an understanding that came to me was that God is at work in us and in the world in ways we don’t understand. I have been really confused and going through hard times recently. I have been doing ministry but not seeing the fruit right away. But God is still at work and is using this to change my heart and teach me to trust in him even when I don’t understand.

For I am still a man of little faith. But I do believe, I only ask that Lord you would help my unbelief. I am trying to seek you.

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

You are our God of abundance.

You spread your word and love all over the world

In the hearts of all people

I pray that people would become good soil

That there would be a harvest.

That we your church would spread the seed and reap the harvest

All for you and your glory

Yet I do not understand your will and plan

All of your creating is for your glory

I do not understand how some people

Can choose not to follow you

God even in my lack of understanding

I want to follow you.

Open my heart.

Speak to me through your Spirit

Reveal your truth and will

And follow you

Through it all help me to trust you Lord!

Amen

Mark 3: Jesus is Lord and so begins his Ministry

Mark 2:27-3:34

New International Version (NIV)

 ²⁷ Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸ So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

 ⁴ Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

 ⁵ He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. ⁶ Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Crowds Follow Jesus

⁹ Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. ¹⁰ For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. ¹¹Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” ¹² But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.

Jesus Appoints the Twelve

 ¹³ Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. ¹⁴ He appointed twelve^[a] that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach ¹⁵ and to have authority to drive out demons. 

Jesus Accused by His Family and by Teachers of the Law

 ³¹ Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. ³² A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”

   ³³ “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.

 ³⁴ Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! ³⁵ Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Daniel’s Thoughts:

The Sabbath was made for men not men for the sabbath. What does that mean? The Sabbath is not the ruler over man, God is. God commanded we observe the Sabbaths. Why? For our good.

The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. What does that mean for us who live in Christ? We through Christ are Lord of the Sabbath in some way. Sabbath was made for us for our good but it is not our master.

What kind of Sabbath do you want for me God? I am no longer required to take Sabbath, but it is a blessing and is wise for me to live out your gift of a Sabbath of rest. I often make my schedule way too busy and I do not rest enough or in the best ways.

Jesus gets angry at these people not for trying to follow the law, but for their stubborn hearts. The people had stopped listening to God and to wisdom. They followed the laws and commands of God, but blindly and only some of them.

Jesus ministry is marked by crowds and healings. People follow him and praise him. But Jesus keeps moving on always to the next town and the next people who need him. Even the demons fall down before him and recognize him as the Son of God. Yet Jesus does not stop and seek recognition, he continues on to serve humbly.

Jesus does ministry different than we do. Jesus does not seek crowds or numbers. The people seek him because he speaks with authority and has power. Yet when crowds form again Jesus moves on. Jesus instead builds a core group of followers who are very committed. First Jesus calls the 12 and later the 72 and more by his death. Jesus pours into this smaller group. His plan seems to have worked far better than the way we do ministry now. For Jesus could have had a massive following like mega-churches today. But instead Jesus called a few and then those few went on each to impact a few more. Today there are millions maybe billions of people who follow Jesus and the entire world knows of Jesus. That sounds like the kind of plan of ministry and evangelism we should follow!

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

You are the Lord of the Sabbath.

You are the Lord of all.

I want to submit to you

Not to laws or commands, but to you

I want to follow you and live my whole life to you

What would you have me do in considering taking Sabbaths?

I know I don’t take rest and I need to.

Teach us your master plan.

Let us follow your master plan of evangelism and ministry

Let us make disciples in all nations

Baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

All for your glory!

For you have come to all nations

But the world and the devil are at work

Churches, people and nations are falling away

But you are not diminished.

You are victorious.

This is all in your plan and will and all for your glory!

Amen