John the Baptist beheaded – Mark 6:13-29

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johnHave you ever felt jealous? I know I have. Maybe you love soccer, and it requires tons of practice for you to stay competitive while one of your teammates seems to score goals with ease. Perhaps you wish you could get by without studying for tests and still get good grades just like one of your friends. It’s not always easy to be happy with the talents God gives us.

I see John the Baptist as one of those humble guys who was satisfied with the gifts God gave him and God’s plan for his life. John’s gift of words helped him prepare the people for Jesus. And he was a powerful speaker. In referring to John’s ministry the Bible says, “People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.” (Mat 3:5-6) His gift of words was so great, that even though he told King Herod that it was unlawful for him to be married to his brother’s wife, Herod enjoyed listening to him (Mark 6: 18, 20). Granted, this is what got him tossed into prison, but John is never shy about what he has to say.

As the ministry of Jesus takes off, people begin to flock to Jesus instead of John. His disciples actually complain to John about Jesus because they see the two ministries as being in competition with each other (John 3:23-26). John tells them, “…“A person can receive only what is given them from heaven…He must become greater; I must become less.” (John 3:27, 30)

John realizes that his life is not his own. Instead of being jealous of his cousin Jesus, John humbly accepts that he must use his gift of words in a way that draws his followers to the Messiah. Let us pray that we can have humble hearts like John and happily accept the gifts God gives us and use them in a way that honors Him. They are the gifts He knows we need.

A short article for help on how to overcome jealousy can be found at http://christianity.about.com/od/practicaltools/i/overcomejealous_2.htm

To read today’s Bible passage, click here and choose any translation you want.

Jesus was rejected in his home town – Mark 6:1-6

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file0001946946654 LonelyDo you experience feelings of rejection? You are not alone. Even Jesus was rejected by the people who had known him the longest, the people he grew up with. Those who rejected him were the real losers, however. Those who permanently rejected him lost their chance at salvation and eternal life.

Jesus was rejected because of the people’s lack of faith in him. We may be rejected for similar reasons. Has God called you to a task? Don’t become discouraged if your friends don’t understand. Stay in tune with the one who has eternal vision and don’t worry about pleasing the crowd.

6 Jesus left that part of the country and returned with his disciples to Nazareth, his hometown. 2 The next Sabbath he began teaching in the synagogue, and many who heard him were amazed. They asked, “Where did he get all this wisdom and the power to perform such miracles?” 3 Then they scoffed, “He’s just a carpenter, the son of Mary[a] and the brother of James, Joseph,[b] Judas, and Simon. And his sisters live right here among us.” They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him.

4 Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” 5 And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. 6 And he was amazed at their unbelief.

–Mark 6:1-6 (NLT)

The full passage for today is Mark 6:1-13. You may click on the link to read it and choose whatever translation you prefer.

Who touched me? Mark 5:21-43

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Healing of the woman with the issue of bloodImagine yourself standing in a crowd of people at a huge parade with people all around pushing to get a better view, when someone asks, “Who touched me?” Would you think this person was nuts or something? Everybody is bumping against everybody – the question seems ridiculous.

Yet Jesus asked this question one day when he was surrounded by people all trying to get his attention as he hurried along:

 Mark 5:30-33 (NLT)

30 Jesus realized at once that healing power had gone out from him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked,“Who touched my robe?”

31 His disciples said to him, “Look at this crowd pressing around you. How can you ask, ‘Who touched me?’”

32 But he kept on looking around to see who had done it.33 Then the frightened woman, trembling at the realization of what had happened to her, came and fell to her knees in front of him and told him what she had done. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.”

The poor woman had good reason to tremble. She had been tormented by an issue of blood for years. As if that weren’t enough, the problem was compounded by laws in the Jewish scriptures which said she was “unclean” because of this problem, and that she must not touch anyone. If she sat in a chair, the chair was considered unclean. So how dare she touch Jesus’ robe? She didn’t tremble from fear for no reason.

Did Jesus have to ask who touched him? Probably not. He simply used his question to get the woman to present herself. Notice that Jesus didn’t condemn her for touching his robe. He commended her saying her faith made her well.

The full passage for today is Mark 5:21-43. These verses tell about Jesus healing Jairus’ daughter as well. Both incidents demonstrate how the people’s faith played an important role in their healing. Click on the scripture reference to read the full passage.

Those who listen will live – John 5:25-29

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The_Lord_is_my_Good_ShepherdJesus said to his Disciples, “… the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live.” John 5:25 (NLT)

How important is it to listen for and hear Jesus’ voice? Jesus also said this to his Disciples: “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me.”  –John 10:27-28 (NLT)

Many foolish people want to believe that there are many ways to heaven, but they are, perhaps unwittingly, declaring Jesus to be a liar by holding fast to this belief. The above verses are two of many in which Jesus identifies those who will have everlasting life. Here are two more:

    • Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” –John 14:6 (NLT)
    • “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” –John 3:16 (NLT)

The full scripture for today is John 5:25-29:

25 “And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. 26 The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. 27 And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man.[a] 28 Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, 29 and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment.

Those looking for loopholes might jump on verse 29 to say if we are “good” enough we can get to heaven. These people are only deceiving themselves. On this occasion, everyone will “hear” Jesus’ voice (verse 28-29). Those who “listen” will live, something they have practiced during their lifetime on earth. Only God/Jesus can define good. Any measuring stick that bypasses listening to Jesus and following him is much too short to measure up to his standard of “good.” To do so is to bypass Jesus sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins.

Father God, give us a willing spirit that we may listen and hear your Son, Jesus’ voice.

A man called Legion – Mark 5:1-20

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Jesus commanding the Legion of demons to leave thWhat a day! Legion had been hanging out for years in the cave-like graves in a cemetery where his demons had driven him. People tried to restrain him with chains but he could break them. Legion had become a wild and crazed man.

(The reference for today is from Mark 5:1-20. Read the passage here to get the full story as I am only picking up the highlights.)

When the man saw Jesus coming he ran at him, because the demons knew who Jesus was. The demons feared Jesus and begged him to send them into the herd of pigs on the hillside. Jesus allowed that and when the demons entered them, the pigs ran down a steep hillside into the lake and drowned.

Legion, for the first time in years, was in his right mind and was able to dress properly. When the people from the countryside came to check out what they had heard, they became fearful of Jesus and asked him to leave. So Jesus and the Disciples left in a boat.

Legion wanted to go with Jesus, but Jesus told him to go to the people of the town and share his testimony about what Jesus had done for him.

Fortunately today, we can both go with Jesus and share our testimony. Legion met Christ before he had been crucified and raised from the dead, so at that time Jesus was confined to the location of his physical body.

Read what Jesus said to the man once known as Legion:

18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. 19 But Jesus said, “No, go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been.” 20 So the man started off to visit the Ten Towns[c] of that region and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them.

–Mark 5:18-20 (NLT)

Jesus’ advice to this man also is for us – we must go and tell others what God has done for us. We may be the only Bible some of our friends will think about reading. You don’t have to go to great lengths to tell everything you ever knew about God, but be willing to share your joy over what God has done for you.