Tag Archives: Healing

Day Thirty-Three with Mark: Mark 8:22-26

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Today in Mark we look at Mark 8:22-26:

Jesus Cures a Blind Man at Bethsaida
22 They came to Bethsaida. Some people brought a blind man to him and begged him to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village; and when he had put saliva on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Can you see anything?” 24 And the man looked up and said, “I can see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he looked intently and his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Then he sent him away to his home, saying, “Do not even go into the village.”

This is the second time we see Jesus heal someone by using spit or saliva.  We talked a good bit in the day about why Jesus chose to use saliva as an instrument of healing.  I think there is much to be said about the notion of Jesus using “modern” understandings of medicine for other’s benefit as well the notion that He is showing illness and disease who is really in control.

But here is the thing that is significant about this text to me.  Notice Jesus takes the man out of town to heal him and then after the healing tells him to not even go back into the town.  Why?  Why did Jesus do this great act in private?  Many of His other miracles, particularly early in His ministry were done in public so everyone could see.

Now, this is in private with the express directions to not ever go into town and tell others.  Why?

Imperial-Crown-IndiaWell, the people of Jesus day were looking for a Messiah. They were looking for a savior. They were looking for a King from the line of David.  In fact at times some people will even call Him the Son of David.  What is happening here is they are saying yes, you are the one that is to come from David’s line.

You will be a king just like David!

And for the people, David was the greatest earthly king the people had ever had.  He was it.  He was the icon of what a king should be.  All other kings would measure up against him.  And when that promised king from David’s line would come, he would drive out their oppressors.  He would restore the fortunes of Israel and make them great again.

He would restore the kingdom.

But, as Jesus tells us, His kingdom is not of this world.  Yes, He is a king, but it is not of an earthly kingdom.  It is a heavenly kingdom.

So why did Jesus do this in private and tell others not to tell.  Because they didn’t understand the kingdom Jesus was going to bring.  So He did these healings in secret.  He did them in private.  Because they didn’t understand the kingdom Jesus was coming to bring.

We will see tomorrow, that even His closest disciples didn’t get it just yet.

So, when I read these stories, the question I always have to ask myself is this. What do I do when Jesus isn’t what I expect Him to be?  What do I do when Jesus’ plan, His will, His purpose aren’t what I would have done myself?

Do I buck Him?  Or do I trust?  That’s always the question.  What do we do when Jesus doesn’t do what we expect.

Today, and each day, may we learn to trust.

Tomorrow we’ll look at Mark 8:27-38.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

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Day Thirty with Mark: Mark 7: 31-37

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Today in Mark 7: 31-37, we see Jesus perform another miracle:

Jesus Cures a Deaf Man
31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre, and went by way of Sidon towards the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis. 32 They brought to him a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. 33 He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. 34 Then looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, “Ephphatha,” that is, “Be opened.” 35 And immediately his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 36 Then Jesus ordered them to tell no one; but the more he ordered them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 37 They were astounded beyond measure, saying, “He has done everything well; he even makes the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.”

maxresdefaultI’m always fascinated with the way that Jesus chooses to heal people.  There are some instances where Jesus doesn’t even show up on the scene, He simply says that someone would be healed and they are healed.  There are other times when He speaks a word and healing occurs.  And then there are times like today when He uses some object as an instrument of healing.

Today, He does that. And look what it is?  Spit.

Why?  That’s a great question.  I’ve done some reading about that, and there’s not really a great answer. There at two that I like through.

One is this.  It was a common thought in the culture that saliva had healing properties.  So, in doing using this, He was doing and visible, recognized act that all would understand.  This was not “magic” or superstition, this was Jesus Christ, using the power at His disposal to bring healing.

Another is that the tradition of the elders (and we’ve already seen how Jesus is pointing to truth there) said that spitting was an insult.  So, perhaps just was “insulting” the disease the man had.  Showing this disease that it was not all-powerful, that it was weak, that He was in control, not it.  Or perhaps in doing this He was showing that not all the teachings of the religious leaders were true.

He was truth, not the teachings of the religious leaders.

But in the end, the fact that we don’t know and it’s a mystery, that’s ok.  That’s good.  That’s the way that it’s supposed to be.  Some things (many things) should be a mystery.  Afterall, we aren’t God.  We aren’t all knowing.  His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts.

You don’t have to know everything.  I don’t have to know everything.  It’s ok.  God knows everything.

Trust in that.  He knows what He is doing, and it is good.  Trust, even when you don’t understand.

Tomorrow we’ll look at Mark 8:1-10.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

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Day Twenty-Six with Mark: Mark 6:45-52

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Today in walk together through Mark, we see Jesus perform more healing.  Listen to what happens in Mark 6:53-56:

Healing the Sick in Gennesaret
53 When they had crossed over, they came to land at Gennesaret and moored the boat. 54 When they got out of the boat, people at once recognized him, 55 and rushed about that whole region and began to bring the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. 56 And wherever he went, into villages or cities or farms, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might touch even the fringe of his cloak; and all who touched it were healed.

3485297601_b789b3fa39We see Jesus come into town after walking on the water, and we see that so many people come to Him for healing.  They come from all over. They lay upon mats, they, they bring their friends, they want just a touch of Him, just a brush.  People just wanted to touch the fringe of His cloak.  This fringe would have been the knots that would have been tied nad untied as Jesus was praying.  People knew that if they just had that brief encounter with Jesus, it would change things.

And that’s the truth of Scripture.  Jesus changes things.  You cannot touch Jesus, you cannot be touched by Jesus, you cannot encounter Him, and not be changed.

Jesus changes things.

We are tempted to look to willpower to change things.  Or religion to change things.  Or self-awareness to change things.  Or many different things to change things.

But in truth, only one thing will change things.  Jesus.  He changes us.  He changes us others.  The people in this text understood that.  They knew that He would change them.

And today, may we understand it, just the same.  Jesus changes us.  Changes others.  Changes lives.  Changes families.  Changes the world.  Changes churches, communities, everything.

Let’s live in His grace today.  And let’s see what He changes in us.

Tomorrow we’ll look at Mark 7:1-23.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!

Day Twenty with Mark: Mark 5:21-43

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Wednesday we looked at the big picture of Mark 5:21-43.  Today, we are going to look at the specifics of the text:

A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” 24 So he went with him.

And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. 26 She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” 29 Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 He looked all around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

Ok, so we see two individuals healed. First, we see the daughter of Jarius healed.  Notice, we don’t know her name.  She’s a child and in that culture, children are considered little more than property.  So, notice that’s why the people said, she’s dead now, don’t bother Jesus anymore.  In this story, Jesus not only brings her back to life, but He inconveniences Himself to do that.  That’s something that would not happen in that culture.

She is worth something to Jesus.  She is worth being healed, she is worth being brought back to life.  No matter what others think, she is worth Jesus’ time and efforts.

Look at Jesus words to the father in verse 36 – do not fear, only believe.  What great words for us today.  No matter what we are going through today, there is a choice that we have to make, fear or belief.  Sometimes (most times) we have a combination of the two.  We are afraid, but we believe.  Jesus says, trust.  I have this.  Trust.

Today, no matter what it is that you are going through, don’t be afraid.  Trust.  Jesus has this.  Trust.

healingawomanwithinternalbleeding222The second healing (technically the first, as she was healed on the way) was the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years.  Ok, Jesus told Jarius not to fear, only believe.  That’s exactly what we see in this woman who was healed.  She was bleeding.  That made her unclean.  And here’s thing about being unclean, that was transferable.  So, if you’re unclean and you touch someone, you make them unclean.

So, this woman touches Jesus making Him unclean.  But here’s the thing, you can’t make Jesus unclean.  He’s the Son of God, second person of the Trinity, God Himself.  He’s unstainable.  So, He doesn’t become unclean.  But she didn’t know that.  All that she knew was this.  She had faith that if she touched Him, she would be made whole.  So she does it.

In that culture, you simply didn’t do that.  An unclean person didn’t touch a clean person.  A woman never touched a man, much less a rabbi like Jesus.  You just didn’t do that.  You didn’t.

Compare her faith to the people who were there at Jarius’ house.  She KNEW Jesus could heal her.  She KNEW it.  They laughed.

Do not fear, only believe.  Yeah, that’s a good word for us today.  Do not fear.  Only believe.

Monday we’ll look at Mark 6:1-6.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

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Day Nineteen with Mark: Mark 5:21-43

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In Mark there are “sandwich stories.”  Those are stories that have a beginning, then something else happens in the middle, and then the thing that is started in the beginning is finished.  In this way, the stories are linked, Mark is trying to say something, not just about the individual story, but about the combination of the two stories together.

Today we see that in Mark 9:21-43:

A Girl Restored to Life and a Woman Healed

21 When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he was by the sea. 22 Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and, when he saw him, fell at his feet 23 and begged him repeatedly, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well, and live.” 24 So he went with him.

And a large crowd followed him and pressed in on him. 25 Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. 26 She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” 29 Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. 30 Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 He looked all around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

35 While he was still speaking, some people came from the leader’s house to say, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 He allowed no one to follow him except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. 38 When they came to the house of the leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 When he had entered, he said to them, “Why do you make a commotion and weep? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. Then he put them all outside, and took the child’s father and mother and those who were with him, and went in where the child was. 41 He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha cum,” which means, “Little girl, get up!” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome with amazement. 43 He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

image-717467Ok, so we see two stories.  We see Jesus healing Jarius’ daughter.  Then we see Him heal a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years.  Why does Mark tell these two stories in combination?

Well, in the first one story we see that He is going to heal the daughter of a leader of the synagogue.  Notice, we don’t know the daughter’s name.  We only know her as Jarius’ daughter.  Now, Jarius was important, he was a leader of the synagogue, that’s a big deal.  But in that culture, children were not important.  They were simply a step of property.  They didn’t have the same softness towards children that we do today in our world.

But not so with Jesus.  Even though this child would not have been seen as significant, Jesus goes out of His way to heal her.  This child is worthy of His grace and His healing.  All are worthy of His grace and His healing.  No one is insignificant or unworthy.  All are loved, all are valued, and Jesus died for them all.

All.  That’s a big word for Jesus.  All.

And we see that in the middle portion of this text, we don’t so much see Jesus heal a woman as we see a woman have faith that simply touching Jesus would heal her.  And so she takes this leap, takes this risk, and touches Jesus.  And in this, she is healed.

But, just like the child, she would not have been seen as important in the culture. And a woman, much less a woman who had been bleeding (making her unclean) would never dare reach out and touch a religious leader (making Him unclean), but she was desperate.  And she had faith.

And you can’t make Jesus unclean.  Because light drives out darkness.  And good is stronger that evil.  And life is stronger than death.  And Jesus triumphs overall.

Today, we see two “unworthy” receive healing.  So, in that, know that you are worthy of knowing and seeing God’s grace, no matter what.

And let us not look past those today that may be seen as unworthy.  May we seek to love them as Jesus does.

Friday we’ll look at the specifics in Mark 5:21-43.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

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Day Eighteen with Mark: Mark 5:1-19

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Yesterday we looked at some of the big picture issues of location and context and fear within Mark 5:1-19.  Today I want to look at little bit a the people involved in this story:

Jesus Heals the Gerasene Demoniac
5 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when he had stepped out of the boat, immediately a man out of the tombs with an unclean spirit met him. 3 He lived among the tombs; and no one could restrain him any more, even with a chain; 4 for he had often been restrained with shackles and chains, but the chains he wrenched apart, and the shackles he broke in pieces; and no one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always howling and bruising himself with stones. 6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and bowed down before him; 7 and he shouted at the top of his voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he had said to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion; for we are many.” 10 He begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now there on the hillside a great herd of swine was feeding; 12 and the unclean spirits begged him, “Send us into the swine; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and were drowned in the sea.

14 The swineherds ran off and told it in the city and in the country. Then people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 They came to Jesus and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the very man who had had the legion; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen what had happened to the demoniac and to the swine reported it. 17 Then they began to beg Jesus to leave their neighborhood. 18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 But Jesus refused, and said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.”

734215_10152379208205043_756632953_nFirst, we see the man.  Look at the torment he had been through.  One of the things that we see Jesus do over and over again in the text is bring healing.  This man needed physical healing, he was cutting himself, harming himself, in great pain, but his physical needs came from a spiritual place.

Jesus cast out the demons and in doing this it brought spiritual and physical healing to this man.  Healing always starts with the spiritual.  In this life, the physical may, or may not, be healed.  But, through Jesus, the heart and the soul can be healed.  Jesus wants to bring healing.  He wants to bring grace.  He wants to bring forgiveness.  Forgiveness for us, and our ability to forgive others.  He longs to restore our soul and restore our life.

Jesus saw this man in pain, and He brought healing.

And look what the man wanted to do.  He said – let me follow you.  And Jesus said, no.  Do something even harder.  Tell your friends what God has done for you.  Why?  Why didn’t Jesus let him go with them?

Look at the reaction of the people in 17.  The people begged Jesus to leave.  Why?  Why did they want Jesus to leave?  Well, we see that their swine had been destroyed (By the way, sidebar – why did the demons want to go into the pigs?  Lots of opinions on this, but I’ll give you mine.  They were destructive.  They wanted to destroy as much as they could. When they could no longer destroy this man, they wanted to destroy something else).  They saw Jesus’ power.  And they were scared of it.  It was bigger than them.

Jesus was other.  And the didn’t know what to do with Him.  So they asked Him to leave.

We would never do that, would we?  Well, how many of us have felt God calls us to something, we know, we know, we know that there is something that God is calling us to.  And we run.  We run from it, we run from God.

Why?  A thousand different reasons, different reasons for all of us. But for me, and probably for many of us, its control.  We like being in control and to let God and follow Him with abandon means losing control.  Giving Him full control. And that’s terrifying.  Even though we know He is good and only wants the best for us.  It’s still scary.

And that’s why we’ve got to trust Him and follow. And sometimes we follow not to far away places. But to our own town.

Today, no matter where He calls, may we faithfully follow.

Tomorrow we’ll look at Mark 5:21-43.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!

Day Eight with Mark: Mark 3:1-6

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Today we take a look at Mark 3:1-6.  This is entitled The Man with a Withered Hand

The Man with a Withered Hand
3 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2 They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” 4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Christ_heals_tne_man_with_paralysed_handWe see Jesus heal a man on the Sabbath.  Remember, this is after His teaching on the Sabbath and religion, religion is a good thing, but it doesn’t save.  Only Jesus saves.  The text here says that people were watching to see if He would heal, not to celebrate that someone was healed, but so that they may accuse Him.

Also, notice in verse 5, Jesus gets angry.  Did you expect to see that?  Two things.  First, being “angry” is not a sin.  If getting angry was a sin, then Jesus just sinned, and we know that Jesus didn’t sin. So, there are times in our lives when are going to get angry.

So, here’s the second thing, and a question.  What is it that makes us angry?  Why are we angry.  For Jesus, it is when people are harmed or abused.  When people are harmed or abused, we should be angry.  We should be angry at sin.  At things that are destructive.  We should be angry when children and families are endangered.  We should be angry at things that destroy.  But never act out of vengeance.  Be angry, but do not sin.

I want to unpack for you why the Pharisees were so against Jesus healing on the Sabbath and seemed to be a constant trouble to Jesus.  Believe it or not, they meant well.  They were trying to do what they thought was wrong, but man oh man, did they miss it.

To understand this, we’ve got to go back in the Old Testament. We see in Genesis 12, God called Abraham.  And we see what God promises him.  A land and a people (and that he will be a blessing to all the earth).

As we move forward through the Old Testament, in the Law and the Covenant, we see this Word over and over again to the people.  If you keep the covenant, you keep the land.  If don’t, you will lose it. And that’s what happened. The people didn’t keep the law, and ultimately the nation of Israel divided to the northern kingdom Israel (which was destroyed by Assyria) and the southern kingdom Judah (which was destroyed by Babylon).

Babylon took from Jerusalem the young, the brightest, the smartest, and brought them to Babylon with the intent of making them Babylonian.  That’s where the book of Daniel happened, it’s where Ezekiel wrote his prophecy, Psalm 137 was written then, and then Ezra and Nehemiah chronicles the process of restoration after the Babylonian exile.

What happened during the exile was a group of religious leaders rose up and said this (I’m paraphrasing).  Ok, y’all, last time we were home, we didn’t keep the law. And look what happened. We lost everything. So, when we get back, we are going to keep the law. We are going to keep our promises to God. And we will make sure the do it right. That’s where the Pharisees came from.

And you know what? What they wanted to do was a good thing. They wanted the people to keep their promises. They wanted people to keep the law. They wanted people to be true. But they guided by fear. They were afraid of what would happen when people broke the law.

So, we see Jesus heal on the Sabbath, which they considered work. And the law is clear.  Do not work on the Sabbath (by the way, they had built extra laws that would define what “work” was, how far you could walk, things such as that).  So instead of celebration that someone was healed, they would say YOU BROKE THE SABBATH!  REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME WE DID THIS!  YOU CAN’T DO THAT!

Their intent started off good. But what happened was this. They mistook the law for God.  The focused more on their man-made laws than they did the revelation of God – Jesus Christ – standing in front of them.

They were guided by fear.  And that’s a dangerous, dangerous thing.  They were actually trying (in their own way) to honor God. But they missed the point.

And that can be a reminder to us today that truly want to worship God and honor Him. Let’s keep the main thing the main thing.  Let’s focus on following Jesus. And let’s do all that we can do to bring glory to His name.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

Monday we’ll look at Mark 3:7-11.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!

Day Five with Mark: Mark 2:1-12

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Today we are going to be looking at Mark 2:1-12. It is entitled Jesus Heals a Paralytic. Also, this past Friday I did a video blog going a little deeper into Mark 1.  If you’d like to check it out, you can click here.

When he returned to Capernaum after some days, it was reported that he was at home. 2 So many gathered around that there was no longer room for them, not even in front of the door; and he was speaking the word to them. 3 Then some people came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. 4 And when they could not bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above him; and after having dug through it, they let down the mat on which the paralytic lay. 5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 8 At once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 9 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Stand up and take your mat and walk’? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.” 12 And he stood up, and immediately took the mat and went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

6793887902_15fa696a37Looking at today’s text, a couple of things to notice. The text here tells how the friends of the man who is paralyzed dug through the roof.  And that’s a pretty good description of what they actually would have done. These houses would have had thatched or mud roofs, roofs that would have been able to be dug through.

So, digging through the roof was not the hard part. This was the hard part.  In a culture where pride mattered a great deal, you didn’t just go up onto someone’s roof and dig a hole.  It just wasn’t something you did. But, their friend needed help. And Jesus could help. And they were desperate to see their friend get the help that he needed.  So, they did what they had to do.

They valued their friend above all else. And that’s one of the themes of this passage.  Notice if you will, two groups. The friends, that would do anything to see their friend healed, and the religious leaders that grumbled about this healing because Jesus forgave his sins.

In this, we see two groups.  One valued that relationship and one that valued religion.  This is someone you need to understand about the religious leaders. They weren’t “bad.”  They were doing what they thought was right.  They were trying to keep the law.  They really weren’t all bad.  But, they were more in love with the religion than they were with the God of the religion.

May we not make the same mistake.  May we love Jesus above all.

 

Jesus calls Himself in this text the “Son of Man.”  This is a reference prophecies in Daniel that pointed to the coming Messiah.  So each time Jesus called Himself the Son of Man, He is saying that He is the Messiah.

And notice what the true power of the Messiah is in this text. Not the physical healing.  What was the first thing He told the man.  Your sins are forgiven. And then why did He heal?  To show that He has the power to forgive sins.

Jesus shows us what true healing is.  It’s not always physical.  It’s spiritual.  Jesus healed this man’s body.  But more importantly, He healed His soul.  He forgave him.  And honestly, above all else in our lives, that’s what we need.

Spiritual healing.  Forgiveness.  Grace.

That is what Jesus gave this man today.  He healed him.  And today, through His grace, He longs to heal us as well.

Today, may we know the grace of forgiveness.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

Tuesday we’ll look at Mark 2:13-17.

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Day Four with Mark: Mark 1:29-45

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We finish up our fourth day here in Mark today, and we’ll be looking at Mark 1:29-45.  The sections today we are looking at are entitled Jesus heals mean at Simon’s house, A preaching tour in Galilee, and Jesus Cleanses a Leper.  Also later today I’m thinking about putting up a video blog (vlog) to go a little more in-depth in this week’s study.  I’ll have a link up here on my blog and will send out a link to it as well when I put it up.

Jesus Heals Many at Simon’s House
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31 He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

32 That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34 And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

A Preaching Tour in Galilee
35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37 When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” 38 He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” 39 And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Jesus Cleanses a Leper
40 A leper came to him begging him, and kneeling he said to him, “If you choose, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, and said to him, “I do choose. Be made clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 After sternly warning him he sent him away at once, 44 saying to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45 But he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the word, so that Jesus could no longer go into a town openly, but stayed out in the country; and people came to him from every quarter.

First we see Jesus healing at Simon (Peter’s) house.  This is in Capernaum and this home was basically Jesus’ headquarters of ministry in Galilee.  While here He heals Simon’s mother-in-law’s fever. And what does she do?  Immediately (there’s that word again) she gets up and begins to serve others.  We are healed, not just for our own benefit, but we are healed so that we can serve others.  The word Greek word “salvation” could just as easily be translated into English “healing” or “wholeness.”  So, in other words, we are saved not just for our own benefit, but to serve and love others as Jesus would have us to do.

We see in the end of this section that the people brought many to Jesus for healing.  One of the issues that is front and center in Mark is the notion of demons and evil spirits.  I take a great caution in this area from CS Lewis in his book The Screwtape Letters.  In this, Lewis writes:

“There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”

In other words, I do believe in evil, I believe in spiritual warfare, I believe in an actual being that is a fallen angel that is called the devil or satan.  I believe that there is evil in the world.  But as Mark shows us over and over again, as he does in this passage, Jesus is stronger than that evil.  So, be aware. But don’t become too consumed by it.  And don’t be afraid.  Jesus is greater than any evil we face.

We see in the next section that Jesus begins to go from town to town preaching and healing.  Before he starts through His followers find Him alone.  Praying.  Seeking His father.  Yes, there are tasks that we are called to.  There are things that we are supposed to do. As Jesus said, this is what He came for.  But, before He began His preaching, what did He do?

He prayed.  He sought His Father’s face.  He knew He couldn’t do what He was sent today apart from the strength of His Father.  That truth is true for us today as well.  Do be faithful, our first step is to seek God’s face.

imagesAnd in our last section we see Jesus heal a leper. I think it’s really important to look at “how” Jesus heals people.  Sometimes He just speaks.  Other times He uses objects (mud, etc) to heal.  For this leper, through, what does He do?  He touches him.  He reaches out His hand and touches him.  Leprosy is a disease that is spread through touch.  So, those that had it were literally untouchable.

Jesus could have just said – you are healed.  He did that in other places.  But what did He do?  He touched him.  He touched him. There are those in our lives that are untouchable.  That feel unloved.  Forgotten.  Untouched.

And we are called, as those that follow Christ, to touch them.  To hug them.  To embrace them.  In Jesus name.

Who are the “lepers” in our lives who we are called to love?  To hug?  To embrace.

That’s how our Lord brought healing.  So may we.

What questions do you have?  How does this strike you?  Shoot me an email, comment below, or connect with me through social media.

Tuesday we’ll look at Mark 2:1-12.

If you’d like to receive these thoughts by email, be sure to click here and join my email devotional group!

What Happens Next

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What’s next is always a key question for me.  I guess I’m the kind of person that’s always looking ahead, but when I know something, or understand something I always want to know, what do it do with it?

What’s next?  What happens next?

I’ve told the story before about worshiping in a church for while that really stressed the reality of human sin and brokenness.  I left worship every Sunday thinking, ok, I get it.  I’m messes up.  What do I do about it?

What’s next?  What happens next?  For me, that’s always a big thing.  What is our response to what happens?  What do we do about it?  How do we handle it, how does it impact us?

Today, look at Luke 4:38-39 and see what happens next:

And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.

1228896000Jesus heals Peter’s mother in law.  What happens next?  She immediately got up and began to serve Jesus and the others.  Notice that word, immediately.  As soon as she could, she got up and went to serve others.

I wonder why?

Perhaps she realized just how much she had been given; she saw the length that Jesus went to, to give her a fresh start from this illness, and the way that she could say thank you, the way that she could respond was this.

To serve.

Perhaps today, that’s us.  Has Jesus moved in your life?  Has He given you grace, mercy, forgiveness?  Has He restored you in some way?  Shown you mercy?  Given you grace?

What happens next?

How do we say thank you?  How do we show Him how thankful we are for what He has done for us?  Perhaps we follow the example of Peter’s mother in law.

Perhaps today we serve someone.  That’s our thank you.  That’s our response.  We show that love, the way that Jesus has shown that love to us.

Today, may our “what’s next” be to show God’s love to someone through our lives!

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