Join us in today’s prayer and devotion: -Praying Thru the Psalms: #119: 81-88 (Kaph):

Kaph

⁸¹ My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word.

⁸² Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me?

⁸³ For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes.

⁸⁴ How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me?

⁸⁵ The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law.

⁸⁶ All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me.

⁸⁷ They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts.

⁸⁸ Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.

Continue: <Link to the rest on our Prayer & Devotion page>

Join us in today’s prayer and devotion: -Praying Thru the Psalms: #119: 73-80 (Yodh):

Yodh

⁷³ Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments.

⁷⁴ They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word.

⁷⁵ I know, O Lord, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.

⁷⁶ Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant.am

⁷⁷ Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight.

⁷⁸ Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts.

⁷⁹ Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies.

⁸⁰ Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

Continue: <Link to the rest on our Prayer & Devotion page>

Join us in today’s prayer and devotion: -Praying Thru the Psalms: #119: 65-72 (Teth):

Teth

⁶⁵ Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O Lord, according unto thy word.

⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

⁶⁷ Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

⁶⁸ Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

⁶⁹ The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

⁷⁰ Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.

⁷¹ It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

⁷² The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

Continue: <Link to the rest on our Prayer & Devotion page>

Join us in today’s prayer and devotion: -Praying Thru the Psalms: #119: 57-64 (Heth):

Heth

⁵⁷ Thou art my portion, O Lord: I have said that I would keep thy words.

⁵⁸ I intreated thy favor with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word.

⁵⁹ I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies.

⁶⁰ I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments.

⁶¹ The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law.

⁶² At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

⁶³ I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

⁶⁴ The earth, O Lord, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

Continue: <Link to the rest on our Prayer & Devotion page>

Gospel of Mark

LESSON 3: Mark -Chapter 2

Previous Lesson: LESSON 2: Mark -Chapter 1

First read Mark chapter 2 quickly all the way though noting all of the ‘Supernatural’ Acts and Events:

The ‘Supernatural’ Acts and Events in Mark 2

Events in Chapter Two That You Don’t See Every Day:

Verses 3-12: 

-Healing of the Paralytic

Verse 4: 

-Sins are forgiven

Verse 8: 

-Knew what they were thinking

Verse 11: 

-Healing

Verses 13-14: 

-Calling of Levi (Matthew) The Tax Collector

Verse 14: 

-Levi actually got up & followed

Verse 19: 

-Jesus speaks prophetically

Now read it again in detail along with  the Notes and Commentary below:

Notes and Commentary:

I.  Verses 1-2  Capernaum

Capernaum was the home base of Jesus.  Whose home was he staying at?  Most scholars believe that it was Peter’s home, while there are a few that claim that his mother Mary & his brothers also may have lived in Capernaum at the time.  Answer -we don’t know for sure, but everyone knew where to find him.

II.  Verses 3-12 Healing of The Paralyzed Guy

     Vs. 3-5  The Hole in the Roof Gang

Can you imagine digging a hole in someone’s roof in order to get a sick person before the healer?  The guy had some ‘real’ friends.  I can just see Jesus in the house teaching, when a little dust falls, then a clod or two comes down from the ceiling. Then when everyone looks up, a part of the roof comes crashing in.  Then comes the strangest stage entrance of all time–down comes a pallet with a paralyzed guy on it.  Talk about upstaging everybody–this guy’s friends ‘cut’ & put him at the front of the line right in front of Jesus.  Can you imagine the angry reaction of the home owner?  But Jesus heals the guy anyway–he forgives him not only for ruining the roof, but also for all of his sins.

     Vs. 6  Religious Leaders Vs. Jesus ‘The Son of Man’

The teachers of the Law were indignant–who does this fellow think he is forgiving sins?–only God can do that.  That is the point isn’t it-Jesus was either a crazy person or he really did have divine authority to forgive.

Jesus referred to himself as the ‘Son of Man’ 81 times in the 4 gospels. Today we use the title ‘Son of God’ most of the time and many wonder why he used the ‘Son of Man designation. Fact is, Jesus was fully God and fully man and the title ‘Son of Man’ actually incorporated both. 

The ‘Son of Man’ title was familiar to the hearers–it originated in Daniel 7:13-14.  The ‘Son of Man’ in Daniel is a Messianic figure with Divine power, authority, & everlasting dominion–his Kingdom will never pass away and every people & nation will worship him:

¹³ “I saw in the night visions,

and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man,
and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
¹⁴ And to him was given dominion
and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages
should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one
that shall not be destroyed.  –Daniel 7:13-14 (ESV)

Also, many writings during the intertestamental period (400 BC-0) referred to the coming Messiah as ‘the Son of Man’.

     Vs. 8-11 Jesus Heals the Man

Jesus answers his critics by healing the paralyzed man.  Therefore, he was not guilty of blasphemy.  After all, no man can do either–only God can really heal & forgive.  Lord Jesus, forgive us & heal us also!

Q:  Why did Jesus forgive his sins first?  Just so he could make a point?

A:  When Jesus ministered to people, he did what was necessary to bring complete healing.  Regardless of those around who might be confused. 

We live in a fallen world, all of us have sinned & sometimes our sin can get in the way of receiving complete healing in our lives.  All of us needs a Savior, and we all need Jesus to forgive us.  If you need Jesus to forgive your sins, just ask him now–he will forgive every mistake and every wrong thing you ever did.  You only need to ask.  He will be your Savior for all Eternity if you ask him.  He can be your greatest friend. Just ask him now! 

We don’t know the background of the paralyzed man. Everyone there could see his obvious need for physical healing but Jesus knew that it was more important for the man to first receive deliverance from the bondage of his sins.

When the physical healing did come-everyone rejoiced and glorified God.  Only Jesus knows your real need today–just ask him.

III. Verses 13-17  The Calling of Levi (Matthew)

‘Levi’-his given name, Matthew (Gift of The Lord) was his Apostolic name, and the name of the Gospel he wrote.

‘Tax Collector’ -Probably was collecting road tolls for Herod Antipas.  They were disparaged and looked down upon by most.  They were also notorious for being dishonest and for acting contrary to the Mosaic Law.

     Vs. 17  In any context, all of us humans are sick & in need of Dr. Jesus–and he will fellowship with us also, regardless of our past.

IV. Verses 18-22  Fasting

Fasting had become a perfunctory duty of the religious.  Sometimes they made a show of it in order to appear to be more ‘righteous’ than they actually were. 

Jesus used the symbol of a ‘wedding banquet’ to explain the present context for himself and his disciples.  It is a time of celebration–after all, the King has come!  After the ascension of Jesus, the Apostles & early Christians did indeed fast.  When the King comes again, all Christians will be invited to a great feast–‘The Wedding of the Lamb’ –Rev. 19:7.  Until then, fasting is still in.

     Vs. 21-22  Old and New Cloth & Wineskins

Jesus & his disciples represented the coming of a new era.–‘the new wine’ –the new covenant; while the Mosaic Law & religion represented ‘the old wineskin’–the Older Covenant. Point is, the traditions of the rabbis and their interpretations of the Mosaic Law may not apply to the ‘new covenant’ followers of Jesus. Later the church would struggle with what should still apply. (See Acts 10-11:18, 15:1-29)

V. Verses  23-28  The Sabbath Controversy

Jesus & his disciples buck up against the religious leaders of their day.  The Pharisees see Jesus and his followers picking grain as they walked through a field on the Sabbath.  They charged them with technically harvesting grain, which was work, and work was forbidden on the Sabbath.  Do we have any nitpickers like that, in our Churches today?

     Vs. 25  David & his Followers-see story in I Sam. 21:1-6.

     Vs. 27  Jesus questions-what is the real purpose of the Sabbath?  The day of rest was supposed to be good for the people & a time to worship God.

     Vs. 28  Lord of the Sabbath

Jesus proclaims here that his authority supersedes the Laws of Moses & the Rabbinical traditions concerning the Sabbath.  He is ‘The Son of Man,’ The ‘Son of God,’ and ‘Lord of the Sabbath’ and really Lord of everything. 

Is he your Lord today?  Just commit yourself to him and your life will change for the better not only in this life but also for all eternity:

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that who ever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. –John 3:16

-Read Chapter 3 for the next lesson.

Previous Lesson: LESSON 2: Mark -Chapter 1

*Top

Join us in today’s prayer and devotion: -Praying Thru the Psalms: #119: 49-56 (Zayin):

Zayin

⁴⁹ Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope.

⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me.

⁵¹ The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law.

⁵² I remembered thy judgments of old, O Lord; and have comforted myself.

⁵³ Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.

⁵⁴ Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.

⁵⁵ I have remembered thy name, O Lord, in the night, and have kept thy law.

⁵⁶ This I had, because I kept thy precepts.  (KJV)

Continue: <Link to the rest on our Prayer & Devotion page>

It was bound to happen some time or another. Two parents in a custody battle are fighting over the gender of their 6 year old son. From the Faith Wire:

A father in Texas is fighting to keep custody of his 6-year-old son while the boy’s mother claims he’s a transgender girl.

According to court documents obtained by The Federalist, the boy, James, only dresses as a girl and goes by the name “Luna” when he is with his mother, who has enrolled him in first grade as a female. The father, though, claims the little boy never dresses as a girl — even when given the option — when they are together, always choosing to align himself with his biological sex.

…Nevertheless, in their divorce proceedings, the mother has reportedly accused the father of child abuse for not affirming their son’s transgenderism.

<Read the whole article>

Response: It will be interesting to see how a family court responds to this case. A lot will probably depend upon the world view of the judge.

What I don’t understand is the insistence of the mother to put a young child through irreversible transgender change starting as early as age 8 when the child is so confused that he merely seems to be going along with which ever parent he happens to be with when it comes to gender identification.

Also, what a nightmare for the father who is being accused of ‘child abuse’ for not going along with the transgender identity. Worse yet is the position this battle puts the poor child in. A family breakup is bad enough for a young child without putting the child into a position where he feels like he must change genders in order to please whatever parent he is with. Poor child just wants and needs the love of both of his parents.

Obviously, child custody battles are hard enough with out adding a PC transgender issue to the mix.               *Top

Join us in today’s prayer and devotion: -Praying Thru the Psalms: #119: 41-48 (Waw):

Waw

⁴¹ Let thy mercies come also unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation, according to thy word.

⁴² So shall I have wherewith to answer him that reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word.

⁴³ And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth; for I have hoped in thy judgments.

⁴⁴ So shall I keep thy law continually for ever and ever.

⁴⁵ And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.

⁴⁶ I will speak of thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.

⁴⁷ And I will delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved.

⁴⁸ My hands also will I lift up unto thy commandments, which I have loved; and I will meditate in thy statutes.

Continue: <Link to the rest on our Prayer & Devotion page>

Join us in today’s prayer and devotion: -Praying Thru the Psalms: #119: 33-40 (He):

^He

³³ Teach me, O Lord, the way of thy statutes; and I shall keep it unto the end.

³⁴ Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.

³⁵ Make me to go in the path of thy commandments; for therein do I delight.

³⁶ Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.

³⁷ Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.

³⁸ Stablish thy word unto thy servant, who is devoted to thy fear.

³⁹ Turn away my reproach which I fear: for thy judgments are good.

⁴⁰ Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness.

Continue: <Link to the rest on our Prayer & Devotion page>

BLACK FRIDAY BLESS FRIDAY

Here’s a great way to start the Christmas season, in keeping with the teaching of Jesus who is the real reason for the season after all. From the Christian Post:

On a day when many Americans are crowding the stores for “Black Friday” bargains, a group of churches will instead do acts of charity as part of an annual observance called “Bless Friday.”

“We’re here to help connect individuals, groups and churches to the service opportunities that can transform our communities and our hearts,” noted its website. …

     “We hope that by beginning their Christmas celebration with service participants will place their focus on Jesus.  We especially hope that Bless Friday connects Christmas and service in the minds of children, less Santa and more Jesus.”

<Read the whole article>

Response: This is an idea that Christians and churches all across America could get involved in. Making a difference in the lives of people is a positive way to start the Christmas season.

Already I see the Marines out with their drive for toys and the bell ringers for the Salvation Army. Bless Friday is something every church could get involved in some way in the future. It would be particularly helpful to include children in the event to help them understand what the season is really all about.                *Top