Pressing In

 

“Our fears are soon satisfied, if our mistakes are set right, especially our mistakes as to Christ. Let the disciples have their Master with them, and all is well.” – Matthew Henry

 

Read:  Mark 6

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

 

S:  And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.  Mark 6:56

 

O:  In the beginning of the chapter it said the people had unbelief.  Why?  Commentator Chuck Smith points out two reasons, 1) They were very mistaken when they thought they knew Him. They only possessed a head knowledge of Him and 2) There was much about Him they did not know. Their unbelief was based upon insufficient knowledge of Him.  But more importantly to note is the result of their unbelief – He could not do any works there.  Chuck Smith points out these two facts, 1) The reluctance or unwillingness was not on His part and 2) Your unbelief can keep you from coming to Him, and thus miss all of the blessings and benefits that He desires to bestow upon your life.

 

This is why studying daily is so important.  We do not want to miss out on seeking His face and knowing Him more and more.  Why?  Because as we reach out to touch Him as the last verse of the passage suggests He will make us whole.  Whole in a lot of ways, but I believe also whole in our understanding of Him.  He can remove any unbelief or wrong beliefs we have, if we are willing.  He will feed us both spiritually and physically and give us rest and meet our needs as verses 31-44 describe. 

 

The Master invites us to “Come away into a desert place, and rest a while” (verse 31).  And I love verse 34, “And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.”  I love that Jesus was moved with compassion.  What moved Him?  He saw A LOT of people.  What was going on with them?  They were shepherdless.  They needed to be taught and so Jesus began to teach them many things.  Again they had insufficient knowledge.

 

I will say being in school and studying the subjects I have been studying I can relate to this!!  I thought I knew a fair amount about Jesus and the Bible before attending classes, but I quickly found out how much I didn’t know!  Perhaps Jesus was moved with compassion when He saw me and is now beginning to teach me many things! J

 

Where was Jesus prior to “coming out” to the desert?  He had been in the mountains praying.  Just before this scene we read about John the Baptist and what happened to him.  This was Jesus’ cousin and no doubt the news disturbed Him.  He went away by Himself to seek the Father and to no doubt be comforted in this time of loss.

 

The other gospels tell us during this time that Passover was near.  Many people were flocking to Jerusalem.  Jesus however had to stay away from Jerusalem at this time because there were a lot of people that wanted to kill him as well and it was not time for Him to lay down His life yet.  Passover was another reason there were so many people around when Jesus came to the desert especially men because it was only required of the men to come up to Jerusalem for the feast, but no doubt there were women and children there also, but perhaps not as many as the men which is why the feeding of the crowds focused on numbering the men.

 

A:  You could apply this passage in a lot of ways, but for me I have found that seeking Jesus and knowing Him is a life long journey I think.  We must constantly press in to know more, but not to have a head full of knowledge only, but to experience Him; to be called away to times of rest and times of teaching and times of being filled.  Where do you find yourself today?  Are you pressing in?  Do you need rest?  Do you need healing?  Where are you today?

 

P:  Father in Heaven, I pray LORD to reach out and touch You today.  So often we pray for a touch from You and certainly there are times You reach out to us, but today I come seeking You – just to reach out that I might touch You if possible, even just the corner of Your garment, Your tzit-tzit.  It says in this passage that many came, but not all got to touch You, but as many as did they were healed.  I pray we would press in and be persistent enough for as long as it takes to get close enough to reach You.  It’s not that You are far away or even that You require some huge effort on our part because Your Word is clear that You give to us freely, but my prayer is that we would not walk away too soon that we miss out on all that You would have for us, but that we would stay and rest and be taught by You.  Through Christ I pray.  Amen & Amen.

 

 

 

 

"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest."  Matthew 11:28

 

 

Local friends:  I will be speaking further on this topic today at the Nazarene Church on Bagdad at 11:15 a.m. this morning 2/27/16.  All are welcome J

 

He helps me

 

 

Read:  Psalm 28 and Mark 5

 

S.O.A.P.

Scripture – Observation – Application – Prayer

 

S:  The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and He helps me.  Psalm 28:7a

 

O:  Today in the Gospel of Mark Jesus helped three people.

 

1.       The man with the unclean spirits

2.     A woman who had been sick for many years

3.     A young girl of 12 who had died and Jesus brought her back to life

 

In yesterday’s passage Jesus had told his disciples they were going to cross the lake.  We read how a storm came up and the disciples doubted that they were going to make it to the other side.  Today’s passage opens up with these words, “They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.”  So the first thing we note is that they made it across just as Jesus had said they would. 

 

The word translated Gerasenes is also known in some translations as Gadarenes meaning “reward at the end”.  This is a region located off the Lake of Gennesaret east of the Jordan.

 

Jesus had special works of healing to do there – he had three appointments which drew him to this region.  His first appointment was at “the tombs” (verse 2) where he met a man who lived his life by himself in the mountains and the tombs (verse 5).  He was alone.  He cried.  He hurt himself often.  Jesus saw past the exterior of this man and dealt straight with the unclean spirit(s) that had been torturing him for so long.  After meeting Jesus this man was left in his right mind.  That word is sophroneo – to be of sound mind, to be self-controlled, to be sane, to be sober minded, to be safe.  Some of you reading this today know of people who need this kind of healing in their life.  Before meeting Jesus this man was “krazo” is the literal Greek word.  He would cry out loudly or scream or shriek or call out loudly.  He would hurt himself physically and he was alone and no other person could help him.  They even tried to chain him up to possibly protect his own self and others, but there was no help for him UNTIL he met Jesus, the Son of the Most High God.

 

Next Jesus departed from there and went on to his next appointment where he met Jairus and his daughter who was sick.  On his way to meet Jairus’ daughter, a woman came seeking healing from Jesus and she reached out in faith and touched the tzit-tzit on the garment of Jesus cloak.  This woman was so desperate to be healed.  She tried EVERYTHING!  She spent all her money and visited many doctors, but there was no healing found in those places, UNTIL she met Jesus!

 

Jesus continued on to the third appointment at the home of Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue.  As they approached the house they were given the sad news that she had died, to which Jesus replied, “Be not afraid, only believe.”  Jesus came to her bedside and took her hand and instructed her to “Arise” and she got up and walked.  This little girl was sick and had died, UNTIL she met Jesus.

 

A:  Meeting Jesus changes lives!  He puts us in our right minds, He restores our health even when no one else, even doctors, do not have the answers and He restores life to us physically and spiritually.

 

 

 

P:  Our Father in Heaven, Thank You LORD that You have the power to do what no one else can do for us!  Thank You that when we come face to face with Your glory and power that we can be changed and healed and given new life!  Help us Father to recognize the many ways You work in our life and to be ready and able to give a testimony for the wonderful ways You have healed and restored us.  Father I pray for those who are sick and need healing in their minds and in their bodies.  Father there are several people who come to mind that need Your healing touch.  Father I pray that You would meet them in very real ways and touch their lives and bring healing to them and their families.  Let all those who see and hear of their healing be amazed by You!  We need not be afraid, but only BELIEVE!  Through Christ I pray, Amen & Amen.