Mark 4
The crowds were so huge pushing to get to Jesus that the sheer size forced him to hop into a boat for his pulpit (4:1). Wonder what the crowd was thinking---would You please help me, heal me, touch me. Hopeless. Helpless. Humbled by the wear and tear of the day. His stories called out to something deep within them---the stories opened ears and eyes and hearts to hear and see. Are we any different this day? We all want to reap harvests exceeding our wildest dreams, don't we (4:20). Hear me, help me--- but wait? Anything wrong with just asking? Absolutely not. It is DEMANDING that is highly unlikely in the Face of our Mighty God.
Listen! --- 4:3, 4:9, 4:23...He said it three times.
Another story theme (4:25): "Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes."
Another story theme (4:29): Sometimes we have no idea how we grow or what really happened. We surrender to the One and Only God Who causes the growth. God is tending to the soil of our hearts this very moment...and that speaks volumes to me. This month ranks as one of the hardest ones I've had to face in a good while. We may not know it; may not feel it; may not see it. It's the God of all Hope Who is at work in you and me this day, this month (Romans 15:13).
Love the thought about what Jesus did privately for His Followers---He sorted out the tangles of their thoughts and untied the knots of their hearts (4:34). Here were His disciples questioning Him in The Perfect Storm of their life---"Teacher, is it nothing to You that we're going down?" (4:38). Am I asking the same question today? I know that I did yesterday---where was my faith (4:40) --- focusing on my circumstance.
Jairus was "beside himself" over his daughter's death (9:21) when He saw Jesus---AND, Jairus and the sick bleeding woman just happened to be able to get to Him face-to-Hem. And HE speaks to her touch: "Daughter, you took a risk of faith (5:34)" Oh to hear Him call me "daughter." "Don't listen to THEM, just trust Me (5:36)." The verb in the Greek for "trust" is present participle, meaning: Don't ever stop, no matter what the circumstances, even in the face of death. Keep on believing!
Talitha koum - "Little girl, get up!" (5:41) And HE speaks to each of us this day: Get up! Now they were beside themselves with JOY. You have no idea what your Good God is about to do for you this day, this month!
So many of the same things stirred my heart. Aren’t Jesus’ words a drink of Living Water to our parched souls. He is so attentive to our human neediness in Mark. Maybe that’s why Mark refers to Jesus as the Son of Man so often.
ReplyDelete"Mark 4:11 everything comes in stories, creating readiness, nudging them toward receptive insight" "Are we listening? Really listening? Like a parent at bedtime, Jesus tells stories that bring understanding to His Kingdom.
"Mark 4:25 - be wary of the shrewd advice that tells you how to get ahead in the world on your own. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity. Stinginess impoverishes.” I’ve spent much of my life very insecure. My tendency is to cling tightly to what I have, but it brings such poverty of soul. Faith grows when I give the last drop of myself and knowing God replenishes every need.
"Mark 4:34 - When he was alone with his disciples, he went over everything, sorting out the tangles, untying the knots. I love this word picture, too, Bev. It reminds me of my mother when she would sit for hours patiently, tenderly combing my hair to sort tangles and untie knots in my hair. Each day has so many tangles and knots. Picturing Jesus alone with me sorting it all out comforts this messed up life.
"Mark 4: 40 – ”Why are you such cowards? Don't you have any faith at all?" In the presence of Jesus and still afraid…is there any faith inside me to be courageous in Christ?
Mark 5:10-13 - "My name is Mob. I'm a rioting mob." . . .Jesus gave the order."How many demons torment us this October morning? Jesus, give the order: Be gone!
Mark 5:27, 28 - “She slipped in from behind and touched his robe. She was thinking to herself, "If I can put a finger on his robe, I can get well." Mark 5:34 “Jesus said to her, "Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you're healed and whole. Live well, live blessed! Be healed…” This is the kind of faith Jesus is looking for. "Now you’re healed and whole! Live well, live blessed! Be healed!”
Mark 5:36 – “"Don't listen to them; just trust me."Just trust Jesus.
Mark 5:40-42 – “But when he had sent them all out, he took the child's father and mother, along with his companions, and entered the child's room. He clasped the girl's hand and said, "Talitha koum," which means, "Little girl, get up." The part that Jesus took the parents with him to witness the miracle stirs my heart- such tender care for all of them! And the words, “Little girl, get up!” He has spoken these very words over us. What places in our heart are lifeless, hardened stiff, unresponsive to Jesus? “Little girl, get up!” May each of us rise up, strong again today and respond to His words.
I wept just now reading your words, Annette. Like I was reading it for the first time. Falls so fresh on my weary heart. Wonder what my tears are really over? Bob went out-of-town to help someone but I couldn't go. Came to famous Kerbey Lane for internet. This has been one of the hardest weeks for me in a long time---and I just have to say that the God-of-the-angel-armies showed up.
ReplyDeletePraising God Bev,that He showed up for you this afternoon. Oh, how we need to keep our eyes on Him and NOT our circumstances. What a witness it is to both the lost and the saved around us when we keep our eyes on Him and not base our joy and happiness on our circumstances. May we all learn this lesson and not have to keep repeating it..praying for everyone to have a blessed Lord's day tomorrow...
ReplyDeleteBev, you needed to hear what He'd already given you again, I suppose. When I read your post, I saw how much what spoke to us was the same. I started not to comment then I just pasted it in anyway.
ReplyDeleteHe has your heart turned to Him. You have your clasped fingers on the hem of His robe. More of Thee, Lord Jesus. More of Thee...