In His earthly ministry Jesus did and said may things and here in Mark we see people in their hour of need witness the healing power of Jesus through the eyes and writings of Mark. All of us in this day will or has had an hour of need in our lives and from this story we see the power of faith come to fruition. I love sharing the scripture with others and going beyond the words. These were real people living in a time of great despair and and now in Jesus they have found hope. Join us in the Pew  as we share the wonder of the “word”. 

The scene, the crowd, and the main characters are introduced in verses 21-34. There is of course the crowd that had gathered around Jesus and in the crowd was the leader of the local synagogue, Jairus. Consider if you will that his daughter is only twelve years of age and according to Jewish custom, a girl became a woman at twelve years and one day. This young girl is on the threshold of womanhood which makes this untimely illness even more tragic. We are introduced to Jarius, the leader of the local synagogue. We know from history that such a man was of some considerable importance. This man was responsible for the  conduct of the services and seeing that the needs of the synagogue were carried out. Simply put the ruler of the synagogue was one of the most important and most respected men in the community. We must consider the fact that the activities of Jesus were not approved by the Jewish leadership as a whole. There were prejudices and we can be certain that they would have regarded Jesus as an outsider and yet this leader put those aside in his hour of need. Prejudice really means a judging beforehand. The customs of the Jews would have demanded that this leader or any jew avoid this man…Jesus.It was a dangerous move on his part but he loved his daughter. We must note that this man in his hour of need forgets his position and dignity and when he saw Jesus he threw himself at his feet. He is not the first man who forgot position or dignity to save life or soul. We also note he put aside his pride to ask for help from Jesus of Nazareth. No one likes to be indebted to anyone else…We would like to run our lives on our own. One of the first steps of Christian life is that we will always be indebted to God. Consider this…William Barclay sets forth the possibility that the man came to Jesus himself, a man of his position would have had someone he could send…so it would not be unreasonable to think that his friends and household did not agree with his calling in Jesus, he had no one he could send. Here we have an excellent example of defying public opinion. Another example of our worldly-wise friends thinking we are acting like fools. This type of action occurs when we are at our wisest. It is because he chose to forget position and privilege and seek the help of Jesus and when we chose Jesus we have a Savior for eternity.  

We must not forget the woman that was suffering from a hemorrhage which had lasted for twelve years. This type of issue carried with it a particular problem of heavy personal cost. it also rendered her continuously unclean and shut her off from the worship of God and the fellowship of her friends (Leviticus 15:25–7). She had tried everything that was available for her in that day to no avail. In her desperation she was forced to come to Jesus… No one should need to be driven to Christ by the force of circumstances, and yet many come that way but even so none are turned away.

Every story has an ending and this one in Mark is no different. Jesus goes to the home of Jarius and raises the young girl to life and health. The woman manages to work her way through the crowd and get close enough to reach out to Jesus. The crowd surrounds Jesus but she somehow is able to touch the hem of his garment and is healed of her affliction. So…what might we learn of this biblical record of Jesus’ ministry? The answer is that faith is a strong motivation and in “Our Hour Of Need” Jesus responds to that need put forth in FAITH.

Life is Good

jk

Well I’m home now and that much closer to the “porch”. There are a lot of things that you miss being away from home and one of them is the food, your favorite and such.  When you come back home there is always a flood of memories that overwhelms your mind. My wife is a great cook and one thing she makes is well are different soups. I had asked her to fix me a big pot of homemade beef vegetable soup. Of all the things I could think of that top my list for this day. So…it is only natural that I not let a great “ponder” like this go by. 

Why does moms cooking taste the best? My mom was not always the best cook but we ate a lot like many military families did, out of a can or box from the base grocery. Our family was always moving, that’s where I guess my mom picked up the habit that quick and convenient was a good thing. But there was always  grandmother and an assortment of aunts that kept the old stove going. Ponder this…why did the food taste better? In some cases I think it was a generational thing, for example. it carries with itself reinforcements of positive childhood memories. In most cases it was a simpler time and they weren’t worried about bills and jobs and where your next paycheck is coming from. Remember how that wonderful aroma, that appealing smell…seemed to travel on clouds of anticipation from the kitchen through out the house and on a really hot day with the windows up out into the yard. For example, how about the “aroma of fresh-baked bread”? Another thing…a lot of love went into every meal. It was family crafted! Every one of those ladies knew what their family liked and they would sometimes even take a little time to adjust a recipe to fit the families taste. One other thing they could do. They could put together a last minute meal that would amaze everyone…Recall this…. “Don’t worry, I’ll throw something together.” Well Time to go to supper… I can smell that soup!

³⁵On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” ³⁶And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. ³⁷A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. ³⁸But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” ³⁹He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. ⁴⁰He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?” ⁴¹And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (NLT)

Welcome to the ‘Pew…Today we will spend some time with a very familiar account of Jesus calming the waters and the storm as He traveled to the far side of the lake. THE Lake of Galilee was notorious for its storms. They came on quickly and were terrifying. A writer describes them like this: ‘It is not unusual to see terrible squalls even when the sky is perfectly clear, on these waters which are usually calm’. It has been written this storm tested the faith or lack of faith of the disciples. Fact is that anyone that undertook the trip across the lake was always liable to encounter such weather. While we are here it might be appropriate to ask ourselves if we can recall a time when our faith was really tested? It is important to remember that these disciples were for the most part simple men and they by this time had seen and heard much, maybe a little more than they could process. As we take a little more time to absorb the words in these verses, the wealth of information we find here helps us to better appreciate the Good Book and what the writer of Mark has left us. While we would not have thought it mattered, in that time apparently it was important where a person sat. When inviting guests to join you for meal it was the custom to seat them in order of their importance and standing in the community. We know that it was a custom that a Rabbi stood to preach and sat to teach. Jesus was seated in the stern on a small cushion, as was the custom extended to any distinguished person.

In Mark 1:25 when Jesus encountered a demon possessed man,  he used the same two words in this verse to address the storm…the rain, wind and the waves. It is relative to compare them because when Jesus spoke the demons obeyed.The people in Palestine believed in those days, the evil power of the demons were at work in the realm of nature. But there is much more here. We know that the storm was quelled by the spoken word of Jesus. Those in the boat were astonished, they marveled at the power of Jesus… they saw it as a physical miracle, it happened at that moment…perhaps never again. William Barclay sees it in a symbolic sense and here is one of those thoughts worthy of consideration and learning. Once those in that boat heard Jesus command the storm to cease and realized Jesus was with them a sense of peace entered their hearts. For us today it can mean that to travel through this life with Jesus, we too can have peace in this life. Even in the midst of the storms of this life we can have peace with Jesus.

Thank you for reading this and I hope it fosters a desire to study the word even more.

Life is Good

jk

Matthew, Mark, and Luke are the first three of the four gospels in the New Testament and are often referred to as the “synoptic gospels”. This is because the gospels share many of the same stories, and sometimes in the same order, which means they can be “seen together” (A I)

The Parable of the sower appears in three books of the NT. Matthew, Mark, and Luke. First from Matthew 13:10-13

10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables:

And in Mark 4:10-12  10 When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. 11 He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables 12 so that,

“They may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’’

Luke writes this… Luke 8:9-10…9 His disciples asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,

‘though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.’

According to Matthew this is the first parable Jesus ever spoke. Rabbis always attracted a crowd. The people would follow them wherever they went searching out the little gems of wisdom they spoke of as they walked. This particular day Jesus was walking by the seaside and the crowd had grown so large He was being pushed into the sea. To continue on Jesus got in a boat and was then just a few feet from them but they continued to follow Him along the seashore. How many times over the years have we encountered this parable? Sermons, Sunday School lessons, different bible classes and references to different study guides.

One of the most interesting  theories about this parable is that Jesus often incorporates examples that people can picture in their mind from every day occurrences. Jesus sat down to speak…the custom of the day was that you stand to preach but sit to teach. So we picture Jesus, still in the boat, sitting down. Here is an example of Jesus using this very thing. In the parable of the sower it is very likely that Jesus’ view of the shore line and beyond at that very moment He could see the sower sowing in the fields up from the seashore. (Barclay, William; Barclay, William. “The Parables of Jesus”.) Jesus tells the story using the fact that there were different types of ground that the sower would be throwing seed on. Here again those listening would be able to visualize what Jesus was saying, thus better understanding the direction He was going. There were four different kinds of ground that are mentioned.

First, there was the wayside ground. They were long narrow strips that a man could cultivate, there was no fence or wall around the strip but between each of them ran a narrow ribbon of ground perhaps not much more than three feet across. These little narrow walkways provided a path that anyone could walk on…they were common right of ways. This presented a hard ground that was packed rock solid, no seed or even weed could penetrate the surface. This type of ground represented a closed mind.

Then there was the rocky ground. Palestine had many places where there was only a fine skin or layer of dirt over a shelf of limestone. The seed would take hold but over time would parish for lack of moisture and nourishment. Third there was the thorny ground. You might say its appearance was deceptive. It was without substance, as sometimes we allow our faith to be.

Third there was the thorny ground. You ever hear the expression “look at you…you sure clean up good.” Thorny ground occurred because it was easy enough to make the ground look good by just turning over the soil. But here is the catch…if you have let the weeds grow and go to seed, the seeds are still there in the earth and it is at this time they grow faster than the good seed and they will choke the very life of the good seed. As Christians we are Christs messengers. If we allow the weeds of life’s sins   to remain in our lives…even if we pretend they aren’t there…They will choke the very life out of our ministry and faith.

Fourth there was the good ground. This ground   was receptive enough to allow the seed to take root, clean enough to provide the moisture and nourishment needed to grow.

Consider this…A farmer knows that the every seed he sows won’t necessary take root and grow but he sows anyway. He knows there can be no harvest if he doesn’t. So the main lesson of this parable that even if the effort we make seems to produce little…There will still be a harvest.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke are the first three of the four gospels in the New Testament and are often referred to as the “synoptic gospels”. This is because the gospels share many of the same stories, and sometimes in the same order, which means they can be “seen together”Keep the Faith.

jk

As I grow older I have time to remember and forget…sometimes forgetting is the best way to go. I miss the porch but they keep telling me that rehab is the way to go…and I keep forgetting that. I remember the things that have taken place in my 81 years and I can’t forget those who gave so much to make it a great time to be alive. Consider this… I remember how hard my mother worked to make a home for me and my brothers and sisters. I remember my Dad and his love of country, he was career military, Air Force…enlisted in the old Army Air core served 30 years. We lived on military bases for most of my life…those that had dependent housing. There was never a whole lot of money but mother used the base grocery wisely but if we had to live off base it was not always easy for her to plan meals for the family. I remember as strange as it might sound how being on a military base was a great thing. 25 cent movies, free pool, gym and library and every now and again meeting my Dad at the base mess hall for lunch. They had the coldest best milk I have ever had, that milk machine was awesome and yes that ice cream machine was a wonder…hold the lever down and it just kept coming. I would like to forget the moves every few years, always the new kid on the block. Most kids formed life time friendships and the memories that come with those. While I am forgetting things I would like to forget the ordeal of never really being part of the community. Consider this…if there was no on base housing for dependents the military provided a housing allowance for off base quarters. People were not very nice to us. This was in the mid fifties…we were often, my brothers and sisters and I referred to as military brats. I believe that’s where that preverbal chip on my shoulder comes from. To continue on this forgetting path I never felt I belonged anywhere, kinda a man without a country if you will; the problem being I was just a kid. Then came Texas…Texas adopted me, actually I Adopted Texas. There I was welcomed as I was and judged by my actions…I could establish my own character. I worked hard to be known as a person who kept their word, told the truth and treated others as they treated me. You know what the biggest thing for me was?  When people asked where are you from…now instead of all over I was proud to sayTexas! Now I had a home, I was all of 14 years old. All these things I will remember but the most important thing today is I will never be alone or forgotten. My God is my anchor and when the time comes I will be going to my forever home.

Kurt

An interesting subject to consider that to a Christian has a different meaning than is often attached to it. Simple meaning is…confinement in a jail or prison : the act of imprisoning someone or the state of being imprisoned. For a christian it is the lack of faith or our sinful nature that makes us a prisoner to the evil and bad decisions of this life. We all will at one time or another experience a time in our lives when the situations of this life hold us prisoner to things we cannot control or opt to not control. It is an established fact that we, all of us, value our ability to do our own thing…it is a natural component of the human psyche. The other way of saying that is that our creator has granted us the ability to think for ourselves…we can say or write it much simpler… Free Will. Bottom line, it is up to us to determine the direction we will go in this life and mankind has demonstrated by past behaviors that we don’t always choose the right path. We find in the Bible, a map if you please…that will point the way to a better life, I have come to refer to it as “The Good Way”. None of us will ever be exempt from the temptations we will encounter in our life time. The Apostle Paul referred to himself as “a prisoner of Christ Jesus” during his time of house arrest in Rome…AD 60-62…Acts 28:30-31. He often in his letters used the term “Jesus Christ”. Also  According to the Acts of the Apostles, St. Paul and Silas were in Philippi, where they were arrested, flogged, and imprisoned for causing a public nuisance.

The reason The Pew has chosen this path at this time is really simple… there is a better path for those who chose wisely. I hope this blog influences you to seek that path…I call it “The GoodWay”and it is open to all who seek it… the book says  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Simple but to the point…  from the day we were created we were challenged to live a Godly life. Is that the answer to a good life? Yes, but we tend to misunderstand the full intent of such. There will always be things that make for bad times, hardships, illness and hurt and sorrow will challenge all of us…think of that old expression…thats life. God has given us a purpose in life and in Micah 6:8 we have a very simple charge… 

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.

    And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

    and to walk humbly  with your God

The New Testament leaves no doubt as to the path that follows “The Good Way”.

John 14:6-76 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”

As the church came into being many of those who had followed this “nazarene” would come to be called “people of the Way”. Old Testament writings put before the people the best of “The Good  Way”. 

Deuteronomy 31:8—The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Psalm 23:4—Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

We have a reason to trust and believe. No one thing or the devil himself can separate us from our God. The Good Way, seek it and follow it. 

Matthew 22:34-40 34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37 Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[c] 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’[d] 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Life is Good

jk

I have shared with you in the past my love of the psalms and this we week return there for a little encouragement in a time when we all could use a little. Psalm 139 was not written for any special occasion but is a quick lesson in morality, again something needed in these days. It focuses on the wisdom, presence, providence, and justice of God. In the first part of this psalm we see God’s perfect knowledge, it is unique and cannot be copied and as we already know but it’s reaffirmed here that God is the maker of man. We often do not realize the bond that exists between ourselves and our God, it could not be anymore intense than expressed in this Psalm…139: 15-16

15 

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

16 

You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.

Maybe it is a little out of character but I am awed that God is so attentive of me… like that song…  “You Are Always On My Mind… who am I O Lord, That you should be mindful of me Psalm 139:17-18 reads, “How precious are your thoughts about me, O God. They cannot be numbered! I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you”. 

Consider what is written here and don’t pass over the significance of the words. God, the creator of all things has been with you before you were ever whole. God knows all about you, even from your inception. God was the superintendent of the formation of your body and herein it is made plain that for all time he will be there for you. There is so much here to be considered that I am just sharing with you in no particular order. God has full knowledge of us…God knows our very thoughts before we even think them. There is no place we can go that he is not there. He is in the truest sense omniscient, our God knows all, sees all and hears all. How strong is God’s love for us collectively? As believers we cannot be removed from the supporting,comforting presence of our God, as a group or as an individual. Even death and the grave cannot separate our body from the love of the Savior, who will raise it a glorious body. No outward circumstances can separate us from our Lord. As believers we strengthen this bond by the exercise of faith, hope, and prayer.

As I close out this blog I Urge you to be mindful of the many mercies from our very first breath we have received from our God. We may also be sure there will be more in the time allotted to us in this life. We were wonderfully crafted by our God to do good to all and to love and care for this creation he has made for us. We can only do this by not yielding to our sinful natures. Find the good way, walk on its path…for it is pleasing to God.

Life is Good

jk