The religious leaders sent officials to find out who John the Baptist really was. Many people were attracted to John’s ministry, so the religious authorities sent a delegation to find out who he was, what he was doing, and why he was doing it. There must have been a great temptation for John to answer yes, making himself more important than he really was. But, he remains humble and true.

John was not the Messiah. Therefore, it was important for John to make it clear that he was not the Messiah. His answer, though, also points to the truth that while John is not the Messiah, the Messiah had come in Jesus.

John was not Elijah. It would have been easy for the priests and Levites from Jerusalem to associate John with Elijah because of his appearance, his personality and because of the promise that Elijah would come before the Day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5-6). While John was careful to never say of himself that he was Elijah, Jesus noted that in a sense, John was like Elijah, ministering in his office and spirit.

John was not the Prophet. In Deuteronomy 18:15-19, God promised that another prophet like Moses would be raised up within Israel, and that they must listen to him. Again, John is not this prophet, but points to Jesus, whom Israel should listen to and follow.

It may be tempting for us to think ourselves more important than we really are. All of us, regardless of our wealth, our backgrounds and position in life, require forgiveness in Jesus. Being humble enables us to accept Jesus, to be thankful and to point others to the source of our salvation. DR

Questions

Prayer

Dear Lord, we thank you for John’s humility expressed in his clothes, his diet, his ministry and his answers. Help us to be humble and recognise that we are no better than anyone else because we all need Jesus’ forgiveness and grace. Help to us share that knowledge on our frontlines. In Jesus name, Amen.

Even though Jesus had been rejected by those who knew him best, he continued to travel from village to village teaching them about the Kingdom of God. He then sent out the disciples with authority over evil which he had already demonstrated. Everyone who had witnessed these miracles was amazed. Imagine being told to go out and do the same things.

Jesus gave the disciples very specific instructions. They were to take only a staff – no food, no money, no extra clothes and no carry bag. They were to stay in one place, but leave the town immediately if they were not welcomed. Jesus wanted the disciples to completely rely on God’s provision and rely completely on Jesus’ strength and authority as they participated in Jesus’ mission.

The disciples modelled their ministry on Jesus. They went out, preached a message of repentance, drove out demons and healed many sick people. Just as Jesus had brought the Kingdom of God near, so now the disciples were doing the same.

In the same way, all followers of Jesus are sent out into the world. Unlike the disciples, we don’t have specific instructions about what to take with us. However, we need to be just as careful that we are not distracted by worldly things, that we don’t rely on our own strength or talents, and that we minister in Christ’s strength because he is our King. DR

Questions

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we thank you that, in Jesus, we are forgiven, restored, and healed. Send us out into the world to proclaim the Kingdom and the King who forgives, restores and healed all who repent and put their trust in him. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

The eyes of the blind have been opened, the sick are healed, the lepers are cleansed, the spirits are driven out, and the violent storms are stilled. These are all amazing miracles that point us to the identity of Jesus and are signs of what the kingdom of God is like. However, there is one other enemy which hasn’t been dealt with. Death. Death won’t finally be put to death until later on, as with other illnesses, but for now, we’ll see that Jesus’ authority even goes beyond death.

Jairus demonstrated a great amount of faith here. He knows that Jesus is able to do heal his daughter, he pleads with him and Jesus agrees to go along with a great crowd. In the midst of this great crowd is a woman who demonstrates immense faith. She has been suffering bleeding, isolation from being unclean, and this has only been made worse from other doctors. Her faith led her to touch Jesus’ cloak, and it was her faith that led her to being healed. Jesus wasn’t angry, it wasn’t any magical power that his cloak contained, there was no superstition, but faith and compassion were at work here. Meanwhile, while all this is happening, Jairus’ daughter dies. The grief of her father and the community would have been overwhelming, but Jesus tells Jairus to believe.

Jesus goes to the house, brings only the closest disciples and the parents with him, takes the dead child by the hand and tells her to get up. The result? She is made alive! Jesus’ authority even stretches over and beyond death itself! The Kingdom is a place where death will have no reign! And we see this most clearly in Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus will take go to the grave and will deal with our sin but he won’t stay dead. Three days later he will rise again. Death could not hold him down and if we repent and believe in him, death will not be the end for us. MC

Questions

Prayer

Lord God, thank you that death is not the end, that you have had the final say and that eternal life is found in you alone. In Jesus’ name, Amen..

After the amazing events of yesterday, it seems that nothing is outside of Jesus’ authority. In the words of the old children’s song, “there is nothing my God cannot do!” Yet again this is re-enforced in today’s passage. Today we see Jesus once again, showing his complete authority over impure spirits. They get across to the other side of the lake and suddenly this man approaches him. This man is possessed and is suffering greatly. He was caused to live among the dead in the tombs, and although people tried to control him using chains and other means, they could not as he was too strong for them. You could almost imagine the town hearing his cries throughout the night if they listened closely.

But seeing Jesus, he runs to him and the spirit pleads with him not to torture him and not to send them out of the area. Why Jesus grants this request and sends them into the pigs, we aren’t too sure but we can be sure that the man was restored to full health. The people of the town were filled with fear about Jesus. Who is Jesus who could even restore this possessed man? Meanwhile, the man asked to go along with Jesus but Jesus tells him to go and tell people. Tell people about the Lord’s power and the Lord’s mercy. And the result? All the people were amazed.

Now today, we don’t really see the demonic at work so obviously, but it would be a mistake to think that impure spirits don’t exist. However, it would also be a mistake to pay way too much attention to them and living in fear of them. We have no reason to fear for we are secure in Christ, we have the Holy Spirit, but we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be even open to impure spirits through various modern ways. Focus on Jesus who has all authority and complete mercy. MC

Questions

Prayer

Compassionate Lord, thank you that you are all-powerful and abounding in love and compassion. Thank you for your absolute authority over all the realms, physical and spiritual. Strengthen our faith, and guard our lives in Jesus. Amen.

It’s hard to believe that we are still only four chapters into Mark’s gospel. It has gone by incredibly quickly. We’ve seen Jesus teaching, healing, driving out of demons, commissioning of the disciples and there are still eleven and a bit chapters left! So, who exactly is this Jesus? This is the question on the lips of the disciples by the end of today’s passage after Jesus does what is absolutely remarkable. After teaching on the lake in the boat, Jesus suggests that they all go over to the other side. So his boat and a mini-fleet of sorts begins their journey. It’s all well and good until a storm begins to brew, water begins filling the boats, and dread begins filling the disciples. Meanwhile, Jesus is sleeping. Mark even includes the detail that he was sleeping on a cushion!

The disciples wake him up and sort of rebuke Jesus for not helping them out. Jesus simply gets up, speaks to the winds and the waves and they stop. It became completely clear and they are safe. Jesus simply speaks and creation is calm. Just as God’s words spoke creation into being, Jesus’ words controlled creation! Then, he asks his disciples why they were so afraid. Did they still lack faith? That is also the question for us. This isn’t to say that if we try and trust in God a lot, all the fears and troubles of this world will disappear but if we trust in God, we are trusting in the one who does have authority, who does care for us. Therefore, we can have complete assurance that whatever we go through, whatever we face, God is still there. We can have faith in him, we can give him our whole lives in the knowledge that he is a loving, caring God and we see this so clearly in Jesus. The disciples were still afraid. They’re still not sure about who this Jesus person is. But by the end of the Gospel, we will be. MC

Questions

Prayer

Loving Lord, thank you that you care for us, that you are in control, and that we can trust in you in all circumstances. Give us clarity on who Jesus is, the one who has all authority and still went to the cross to die for us. Amen.

What is the role and purpose of a light? This sounds strangely philosophical but the answer is pretty simple. We turn on a light in order to see when it is dark! I remember one night in a big storm in Sydney, we experienced a blackout. All the family were in one room because us kids couldn’t sleep. It was all dark in the room until my brother turned on a torch and the room was brilliantly lit up. Now just previously, Jesus told his disciples that the parables were meant to hide the secrets of the kingdom but now he is saying that the kingdom, or the light, isn’t supposed to be hidden! What’s going on here?

Well, the final and ultimate purpose of the parables is to reveal these secrets, however, they will be made known to those who search them deeply, who plumb the depths of what the parables are saying. Now, this isn’t about being a parable ‘guru’ or trying to allegorise every detail in the story, but this is about the condition of our heart when approaching them. If we come with a heard heart, well we will not produce much fruit, and not get anything out of the parables. However, if we come with a heart that longs to hear what God says to us, that longs to know Jesus better, then we will produce much fruit.

So then, how will this fruit come? How does the kingdom grow? Well not by our work or by our efforts, but it happens by the grace of God! It can grow in the most unlikely places, and from immeasurably small to huge and magnificent. There is no limit on the growth, all we are called to do is to receive the word. MC

Questions

Prayer

Heavenly Father, you have given us the secrets of the kingdom of God and have made them known to us. Please plant your word down deep in us and cause it to produce fruit in our lives. Please shape our hearts and our lives by your word, that we might live like Jesus for your glory. Amen.

I’m someone who likes people to give me the information straight. Don’t beat around the bush just tell me the facts and we can go from there. However, Jesus doesn’t do this. Jesus more often taught in parables which as we have been often told are earthly stories with a deeper, heavenly meaning. Now there’s nothing wrong with that definition, it is correct. However, there’s something deeper going on in the parables. To the disciples and for those who are followers of Jesus, the secrets and the meanings of the parables have been made known. We can look into them, search them, and find their meaning. But for those who aren’t followers, for the religious leaders of the time, the parables were also a type of judgement for them. They had already hardened their heart, they had already rejected Jesus, so Jesus doesn’t reveal the secrets to them because of the callousness of their hearts. It is all about how we receive the word and that is what Jesus goes onto say in the rest of these verses as he explains the parable that we looked at yesterday.

There are four different responses to hearing the word of God. Some may respond with utter hard hearts and reject the word, so the word is taken from them. Others may respond with joy and spring up! But then things get hard or tough, their response slowly grows dim and they fall away. Still, others may respond and hear the word but it doesn’t get a chance to bear fruit because they are distracted by the worries of life and money and then the growth of the word in their lives is stunted. But lastly, the final response is those who receive the word with joy, put it into practice, and then they grow and multiply and are fruitful. As disciples and follower of Jesus, we should be committed to growing in Jesus, listening to him, receiving his word, and putting it into practice. MC

Questions

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for your word and for making known the secrets of the kingdom of God to us. Help us to not take this for granted but invest in it, grow in it, and be fruitful for your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen

At the risk of sounding repetitious, Jesus’ popularity was still continuing to grow! Once again, Jesus has to step out into a boat to escape being absolutely crowded. We are told that Jesus taught them many things in parables. He wasn’t just healing but also teaching people which, as we saw a few weeks ago, was why he came. Being the action-packed Gospel that it is, Mark chooses not to include every single parable of Jesus but includes this one. It is actually quite key to our understanding of all the parables of Jesus. In fact, the very first and last words of this section is vital. Listen.

Jesus tells the parable of a farmer. He goes along and throws the seed around and the seed falls into different places. The ones along the path were quickly eaten. They didn’t have a chance to grow. The ones on the rocks grew a little and quickly but they didn’t have any root and to they died quickly. The ones in the weeds or the thorns grew but were eventually choked and they weren’t fruitful nor productive. The ones that fell into the good soil grew, multiplied and were fruitful.

As you well know, I’m no gardening expert, but I do know that it generally helps to have a good garden bed with good soil, good amounts of water, and sunlight. This is what the good soil has and so it bears fruit. What does this all mean for us? Again, the key is in V9. If you have ears to hear, make sure you listen. MC

Questions

Prayer

Lord God, thank you for your amazing generosity in making yourself known in Jesus. Help us to listen to him, pay attention to his words, and put them into practice. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen

Families and family relationships can be complicated and for at least the beginning of his ministry, it was even the same for Jesus’ family! Earlier on this week, we saw that his family were saying that Jesus was out of his mind and now presumably, they’re coming to Jesus to take him home. They have completely misunderstood who he is and what he came to do. Once again, Jesus is surrounded by the crowds and his family sent for someone to get him. However, Jesus transforms and radically opens his family up. Who is his family? Jesus says that anyone who sits at Jesus’ feet and then puts his words into practice is his brother, sister, and mother. This is amazing! This means that you and me and people we know can become part of Jesus’ family.

Now, this doesn’t mean that we leave our earthly families, but for some, believing in Jesus has meant just that for them! It’s not uncommon for people who have converted from other religions to be estranged and rejected by their family. This must be desperately hard for them but it is not without hope. For when we do turn to Christ, we become part of an unimaginably greater family. We become part of God’s family. We are brothers and sisters together and of Jesus. This is the same Jesus who we have seen over the past days has complete and total authority. This is the same Jesus who is King over the kingdom. This is the same Jesus who will ultimately go to his death and rise again, securing a place with him for eternity. Yes, we are his brothers and sisters. MC

Questions

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for the amazing gift of being welcomed into your family. Thank you that you haven’t saved us just as individuals but as a whole body, as a whole church, as a family. Strengthen us as a church, unify us, and help us to do life together well for your glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Word has gotten out and the big guns from Jerusalem have come down to check out who just who this Jesus person is. These teachers were from the centre of the Jewish religion, from head office. So what do they have to say about Jesus? Well, it isn’t positive. They essentially say that Jesus is demon-possessed and is driving out demons by the power of Satan himself. They are claiming that there is a civil war going on within Satan himself. If you’re thinking that this is a ridiculous claim, then you’re absolutely correct. Driving out demons is a defeat of the enemy, so why would the enemy seem it good to do this? Jesus asks them this question in response to their claim. In driving out demons, Jesus is weakening the hold of the enemy over people before he wins the ultimate victory on the cross over evil, sin, and death.

But he also issues them a strong warning about rejecting him and his salvation. The religious leaders have made it clear by saying that he is a messenger of Satan that they reject Jesus for who he is, reject his salvation on offer, and lastly reject his Spirit. They have deliberately shut off their life and closed off their heart to Jesus. Any other sin can be forgiven, but rejecting Jesus cannot be forgiven. These verses have caused a lot of people concern over the years. People may think that they may have at some point committed this sin. However, if you are concerned about it, that in itself is a clear sign that you haven’t committed that sin. So rejoice in the Lord in the knowledge that all sin can be forgiven through Jesus who has defeated Satan. Because we have the Holy Spirit, we can have assurance of complete protection from him. He has been defeated, the victory has been won, Christ reigns over all. MC

Questions

Prayer

Almighty God, you have won the victory over sin, death, and all that is evil. You reign supreme over all. Thank you for your protection and for the presence of your Spirit. Give us the ability, and the confidence to trust in you in all circumstances in the knowledge that nothing can take us from you. Amen.