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

Numbers 3: The Levites set apart for the work of God's Tabernacle

Numbers 3

New International Version (NIV)

The Levites

 ¹ This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses at the time the LORD spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.

 ² The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. ³ Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests. ⁴ Nadab and Abihu, however, died before the LORD when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai. They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

 ⁵ The LORD said to Moses, ⁶ “Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. ⁷ They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the tent of meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle. ⁸ They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. ⁹ Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.^[a] 10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”

 ¹¹ The LORD also said to Moses, ¹² “I have taken the Levites from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine, ¹³ for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the LORD.”

 ³⁹ The total number of Levites counted at the LORD’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.

Daniel’s Thoughts:

The first aspect of this passage that stands out as significant to me is that God has set apart an entire tribe of Israel for the primary purpose of serving in his sanctuary. God has set apart thousands of men to serve him. I can’t imagine what tasks that many men could accomplish and how that many were needed to do the work of the tabernacle.

This is significant to God that his people take his tabernacle his sanctuary seriously. This many men were called by God to serve and take care of the tent of meeting. Do we take God this seriously? If we did then I think we would honor God far better with our bodies the temple of God, our hearts and our lives. I know I don’t take this seriously enough that I am dead to sin and I should be living only to Christ.

I am so thankful that I have read Hebrews and know the fulfillment of this imperfect system and the levitical tribe/aaronic priesthood. Christ came and died tearing the veil so that our relationship with God was restored and God could be with us in all places and times. Jesus is our high priest forever completely fulfilling the duties that the tribe of Israel the priests and particularly human high priests the firstborn descendant of Aaron.

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

Let us take seriously

That you are holy

That we are your temple

That our hearts are yours

That we are to dead to sin

And

Alive to Christ

Let me serve faithfully as did the Levites before me.

Thank you for calling each of us

As priests to serve you Lord

Knowing that you are our high priest

Forever!

You have paid the ultimate sacrifice

Of your body and life.

We are made holy by your blood and sacrifice.

Let us live a new life in you!

Amen

Numbers 21:1-8 The Bronze Snake: God's salvation from the snakes

Numbers 21:1-8

New International Version (NIV)

Arad Destroyed

 ¹ When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. ² Then Israel made this vow to the LORD: “If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy^[a] their cities.” ³ The LORD listened to Israel’s plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah.^[b]

The Bronze Snake

 ⁴ They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea,^[c] to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; ⁵ they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!”

 ⁶ Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. ⁷ The people came to Moses and said, “We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us.” So Moses prayed for the people.

 ⁸ The LORD said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” ⁹ So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.

Daniel’s Thoughts:

Think about the experience of Israel and how they come to be in the desert when this event happens. Israel has been saved from the land of Egypt by the very hand of God. God’s very presence has led their way in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of smoke by night. Then as his people grumbled against him he answered their prayers and God has provided for them in the desert. For food he rained manna from heaven in the morning and sent the quails in the evening. God provided water from the rock.

Even in this very same chapter of Numbers Israel asks the Lord to bless their conquest and the Lord hands the Canaanites over to them.

Yet the Israelites easily turn their backs on God and forget. Not only that they complain about the blessings God sent them.

And so God punishes them by sending poisonous snakes! Yet when they confess their sin and turn back to God he answers. It is significant that the Israelites pray for God to take the snakes away. They pray like we do asking for God to do it all and make things easy. But what happens when God does answer? Israel forgets and turns from him again. I know I do the same, I fail to give thanks to God and remember his faithfulness.

But God is wise and instead of taking the snakes away or even making them no longer poisonous, God leaves the poisonous snakes and offers salvation another way. God has Moses make and raise up a snake on a pole.

Let us take this understanding to the Christ and the Cross.

John 3:14-17

¹⁴ Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,^[f] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”^[g]

 ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 

In God’s wisdom his plan for our salvation was the cross. This is foolishness to the world but the very power of God to those who are being saved.

Let us remember the Cross and Christ so that we might not live in sin but live to Christ in righteousness.

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

You have done great things!

In my life and in the world

Let me not forget or turn from you

In the trials and hardships in my life

Let me remember your faithfulness.

Thank you for most amazing gift

Sending your son Jesus

To the Cross grave and resurrection.

Let me never forget that sacrifice.

I want to live a new life to you Lord

Amen

Wisdom of the Lord not the World

1 Corinthians 1:18-19

<sup>New International Version (NIV)


18</sup> For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

   “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
   the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”^[a]

Proverbs 9:10

New International Version (NIV)

^{10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, 
   and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.}  

Daniel’s Thoughts:

Currently I am on a men's retreat focused on gaining wisdom with my church: Evergreen Lutheran Church. 

I will keep this simple. I think the first thing we need to know is that there is there are two kinds of wisdom (James 3:13-18). The Wisdom of the World and the Wisdom from heaven. To the world God's wisdom is foolishness. But to those who are being saved 

The Cross is God's plan in all his wisdom and to us the cross is the very power of God! 

Wisdom that we need begins with the fear of the Lord! 

All wisdom and purpose in our lives comes from our relationship with our God. We need to seek to understand and trust God and the work of Jesus on the cross. We must grow in relationship with our savior and our father through the Holy spirit and scripture. This relationship is more than personal and more than belief, it is a living and active faith that is revealed in our actions. 

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

You are eternal

All else fades. 

Your wisdom and plan is the cross

This is foolishness to the world

your very power to us!

I want to live my life completely to you

not as a sacrifice but as a gift

for in you is life:

the best possible life. 

I want to seek wisdom

not of the world

but your wisdom

Let me start by growing constantly

in relationship with you

in life, in prayer, in study of your Word.

Help me to trust in you

and live out my faith in action

From this will come life, joy, blessing and wisdom!

Amen

Hardship: From God for our Good!

Romans 5

New International Version (NIV)

And we^[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. ³ Not only so, but we^[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

Hebrews 12

New International Version (NIV)

⁵ And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says,

   “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, 
   and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 
⁶ because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, 
   and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.”

 ⁷ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 

^{. . .}

 ¹⁰ They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. ¹¹ No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

 ¹² Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. ¹³ “Make level paths for your feet,”^[b] so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.

Daniel’s Thoughts:

Human nature is lazy and we dislike hardship and suffering. But God does not promise us an easy life, he promises us hardship and suffering that will work for our good and the good of others. God also disciplines us to teach us. God gives commands to guide us and then disciplines us when we falter so that we may share in his holiness.

Let us rejoice then in our suffering and the hardship in our lives. For they are gifts by God for our good.

I think too often we pray for the wrong things. We pray for the things we want, we pray for painful events to end or stay away. Instead I think we ought to pray to God asking for strength to endure. We ought to pray that we would bring about a harvest of righteousness in our lives and the world by enduring.

About 2 months ago I prayed to God asking for him to teach me to endure. God has done so, but not with some instantaneous switch in my brain. God has been teaching me to endure by putting difficult situations in my life. My work and my ministry have not flourished as usual. But God has been using that to center me on him and teach me to endure.

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

Thank you Lord

For our future hope

For salvation

And Also

For hardship and suffering

I want to rejoice in you and in all things

I can do all things through Christ

As you give me strength

Please continue to teach me God.

I pray not for an easy life, but I pray for a life that would

Bring me closer to you

And grow in maturity and holiness

All for your glory 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