Mike Kines

Have Faith In God – Mark 11

The Lord Jesus went to Jerusalem and Calvary. Up until this specific time whenever the Lord Jesus healed people he told them not to tell others. He kept things private as possible and seemed to move around undercover when he could. He didn't want to attract attention. Now this changed as he headed toward Jerusalem and Calvary.

The common people and children were happy to hail him as the King and Messiah. They sang his praises as he made his triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

The Lord Jesus went into the temple and cleansed it. He taught his disciples that in order to accomplish anything with God that a person must have faith and must be in a right relationship with God and man. Forgiving people is basic to faith in God.

Mark 11:22, "And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God."

While he traveled the Lord Jesus cursed a fig tree which had no fruit. Later the disciples noticed the tree was dried up and were amazed at how quickly the tree had died. When they brought this to the attention of the Lord Jesus he replied, "Have faith in God." He explained to them that if they had faith then what they said would be done. He described the authority a faith-filled believer has to create change in the world. He tied this to a right relationship with people and God. We cannot separate faith in God from a right relationship with people. Both go together.

Today men have faith in many things. Some believe in philosophy, science, or world religions. Some boast in an absence of faith. Men put their heart and energy into self worship. This is the essence of sin – worship of self – and being conformed to the world system. In principle this is living in agreement with the devil. When men do not put faith in God they put faith in themselves which leads to existing like Satan. Satan only worships self. This is what men do when they do not put their faith in God.

The Lord Jesus did not teach us to put faith in faith itself. Some have taught that as long as you have faith it does not matter what the object of your faith is. This is a spiritual disaster because God has made man in such a way that man becomes like whatever he worships. When men worship worthless objects they become worthless. Another word for worthless in the Bible is "reprobate".

The Lord Jesus Christ is God and He is Man. He is the God Man. He became a man to save us from ourselves, from sin, from this world, and from the devil. He redeemed us with his blood which he shed upon the cross. He died, was buried, and rose again the third day. All those who put their faith in the Lord Jesus are united with him and become one with him in death, burial, and resurrection. We become a new creation in Christ Jesus. Old things pass away and all things become new.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Son of David – Mark 10

The Lord Jesus corrected people on several areas and situations which arose as they traveled. These subjects included divorce, God's attitude toward children, and those things which hinder a person from having a right relationship with God.

The Lord Jesus said divorce was wrong and said in the beginning God created a man and a woman to be together for life. There was no divorce in God's plan for the family. Divorce was a result of the hardness of the heart of man.

The Lord Jesus loved children and did not stop them from approaching him. This was encouraging to me to know that one can approach the Lord Jesus without fear of rejection.

Some people believe you can say a prayer and are saved but the Lord Jesus dealt with the obstacles in a young man's life which prevented him from a right relationship with God. The obstacle in this particular man's life was money. This is a common obstacle in many lives. (1 Timothy 6).

The Lord Jesus again prophesied what would happen to him. He described his crucifixion, death, and resurrection. They did not understand.

Contrast the Lord's attitude of humility, being a servant, and a suffering Savior with the attitude of the disciples who argued about who was the greatest and who would have seats of power at the Lord's left and right hand in his kingdom.

The Lord Jesus was merciful and healed a man who was blind.

Mark 10:47-48, "And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me."

When dealing with religious leaders the Lord Jesus used their law and provided them the correct interpretation and application of it. The disciples said they left everything to follow the Lord Jesus. The Lord promised they would be rewarded.

There was a man who cried out to the Lord Jesus for mercy. He knew who the Lord Jesus was. He called the Lord Jesus "thou Son of David". He knew the Lord Jesus was the Messiah and if he could only get the Lord's attention he could be healed.

He cried out to the Lord Jesus and the crowd told him to be quiet but he cried out louder. The Lord Jesus heard his cry and asked him what he wanted. He said he wanted to see. The Lord Jesus spoke a word and the man received his sight. The Lord Jesus said to him, "Go thy way thy faith hath made thee whole." The Lord Jesus gave him permission to go his way but the man followed the Lord Jesus after he received his sight.

Who is the Lord Jesus? It is important everyone knows who he is. He is the Messiah, the Christ, the King of the Jews, the King of all the nations. He will return to this earth and reign over all the nations. He is the judge of all men. Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

The Transfiguration of Jesus Christ – Mark 9

Could it be possible the Heavenly Father allowed this transfiguration to encourage the Lord Jesus? It seemed that shortly thereafter he was very focused on what was coming up. He told his disciples point blank what would happen. He told them he would be betrayed and killed and rise again the third day. They did not understand what the Lord Jesus said and were afraid to ask.

The Lord Jesus cast another demon out of a boy. The boy's father admitted his doubts to the Lord Jesus, but then said, "I believe, help my unbelief!" How much like myself! I can relate to this guy.

The disciples caught somebody attempting to drive out demons. He was not within the inner circle of the disciples so they tried to stop him.

The Lord Jesus told his disciples if someone did something positive in his name then they couldn't turn around and say something critical of the Lord Jesus. He said "whoever is for us cannot be against us". I wonder how I can be apply that in my life?

The Lord Jesus warned his disciples about the dangers of hellfire and the consequences for offending one of the little ones. Perhaps the little ones were new disciples or baby Christians?

Mark 9:2-3, "And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them."

The Lord Jesus took certain disciples with him into a high mountain. Peter, James, and John went with him, and the Lord Jesus was transfigured. What does "transfigured" mean?

The Lord Jesus was changed. He was transformed. His appearance revealed the kingdom of God to the disciples. He said earlier that some would see the kingdom of God. This transfiguration was in some way a revelation of the kingdom of God.

He was described as wearing clothes which were whiter than anyone on earth could make them. No bleach could make his clothes that white. It was a purity and a holiness this earth cannot reproduce.

Why did the Lord allow the disciples to see him like this? They also heard the voice of Father God which said that the Lord Jesus was his son in whom he was well pleased. His command was to hear what Jesus spoke. We were commanded to listen to the voice of the Lord Jesus.

Peter later reflected back on this experience in his epistle.

2 Peter 1:16-18, "For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount."

One important idea we can take from the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus is the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is God the Son. This is a fact about the Lord Jesus which is attacked by the enemy but it is the fact which sets the Lord Jesus apart from everyone else. He is the Son of God. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to God except through the Lord Jesus Christ. (John 14:6) He is the express image of God. He is the revelation of God. Jesus Christ is God.

Colossians 1:15-19, "Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;"

Colossians 2:9, "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily."

God is three in one. He is one God in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Taking Up The Cross – Mark 8

Yeast represented the mixing of sin and unbelief with external religious practice in contrast to a heartfelt faith and obedience to the Lord.

The disciples saw powerful miracles the Lord Jesus did such as the feeding of thousands with only a few loaves and fish. However, they had difficulty applying the truth behind these miracles to their lives.

The parting of the Red Sea did not leave an impression on Israel (at that time) to inspire faith. If one doesn't believe God's Word one will not be convinced even if a miracle such as resurrection from the dead happens.

Human sin is so deceitful it conjures explanations for anything miraculous. Yet at the same time men lust after the supernatural.

Peter understood the Lord Jesus was the Messiah but he did not understand the mission of Christ. The Lord Jesus rebuked Peter when he suggested an alternate way to God's plan of salvation. This was similar to the verse that Moses knew God's ways but Israel only knew God's acts.

The Lord Jesus knew where he came from and where he was going. He set his face like flint towards Calvary, regardless of the opinions of family, his disciples, his critics: he set his face like a flint towards Calvary to obey and fulfill the plan of his Heavenly Father.

Mark 8:34-35, "Then Jesus called the crowd to himself along with his disciples and told them, If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, pick up his cross, and follow me continually, because whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and for the gospel will save it."

The Lord Jesus fed people with bread and fish. He blessed the food and it multiplied to feed thousands of people. Later he warned his disciples to beware of the leaven of the religious leaders. They misunderstood and thought he talked about literal bread. He rebuked them for thinking like this especially in light of the fact that he created miraculous bread to feed thousands of people in front of them.

This demonstrated the depravity of unbelief in the heart of men. Even those who were eye witnesses to miracles had problems with unbelief in their heart. This proved that a miraculous sign does not convince people of the truth.

I am reminded of how I should keep quiet about miracles in my own life. When people do not believe me I am putting them in a position of accountability they may not be ready for. I am reminded I should only preach the gospel to people and not share events in my own life. The Lord does not take lightly the unbelief of people in the face of seeing or hearing of miracles.

Here again I am reminded of the foundational doctrine of denying self. The Lord Jesus told us again that a Christian must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Jesus. We cannot follow our own self and follow Jesus at the same time. Following Jesus means we forsake our own lives. Each person must be taught by the Holy Spirit how this applies in their own personal situation. If we receive the love of the truth then we will be taught by the Holy Spirit to deny our self and follow Jesus. To follow Jesus is to imitate what he did. What did Jesus do? He did not do anything in his own name but he did everything in the name of his Father.

In the same way we do not promote ourselves but instead do all in the name of the Lord Jesus and for the glory of God.

If a man attempts to preserve his life he will ultimately lose it. We cannot create our own life. We are not God no matter what the world tries to tell us. We are God's creation. When we offer ourselves completely to God then we find the true purpose and meaning of life. We are created to serve God, worship God, and lay down our life for his kingdom.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Confronting The Religious Leaders – Mark 7

The religious leaders tried to correct the Lord Jesus. They said his disciples did not follow the religious traditions of washing hands before eating. The Lord Jesus turned the tables on them and corrected them for following the traditions of men rather than God's commandments.

The religious leaders worried because the followers of Jesus did not wash their hands. This was in violation of their religious tradition and so they attacked the Lord Jesus because he did not follow their religious rules.

The Lord called them hypocrites and quoted scripture to point out their hypocrisy.

He then went in-depth to explain the difference between external religion of self-worship and what really makes a man unclean.

The Lord Jesus said it wasn't what we eat or what we don't eat that has moral importance. What is important is what is in a person's heart. What comes out of a man's heart is what defiles the man.

By saying this the Lord Jesus declared all foods were clean for us to eat. It is important to remember this because most cults will eventually get into dietary rules and laws.

After the Lord Jesus corrected the religious leaders his disciples asked for an explanation. He explained that what a man ate did not make him unclean but what was in the heart made a man unclean. This showed the difference between external religion and a true relationship with God from the heart. Many people pretend to love God by acting religious but their heart is far away from God. This was a fulfillment of what Isaiah wrote: "This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me."

This issue was further expounded on by Paul in Romans chapter 14.

In contrast to the religious leaders who criticized the Lord Jesus there was a Gentile woman who came to him and asked for help. It appeared as though the Lord Jesus was tough on her but he still granted her request because she didn't give up. Perhaps this was also a lesson for his Jewish disciples that God loves Gentiles, too?

The Gentile woman asked for help from Jesus for her demon possessed daughter. Some might think that the Lord Jesus was cruel to the woman. Knowing the Lord Jesus from all of the gospel accounts and how many times he was moved by compassion, however, we know the Lord Jesus was not cruel to this woman. His response was designed to draw out faith and demonstrate to his Jewish disciples that Gentiles also have faith in God and receive salvation from God.

The Lord Jesus used creative ways to heal people. Here he used a little spit to heal a deaf-mute.

The Lord Jesus healed the deaf mute man. The Lord Jesus put his fingers in the man's ears, then spit, and touched the man's tongue with his finger. In this way the man could hear and his tongue was loosed so he could speak.

The detail in the description of the Lord Jesus healing this man is further proof that this was a historical account of what the Lord Jesus did. All the scriptures are inspired by God and are true. We can put our complete trust and faith in these gospel accounts of the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Feeding Five Thousand People – Mark 6

The true identity of the Lord Jesus became an issue. Some people in his hometown thought that he was a carpenter. King Herod supposed Jesus was John the Baptist. Herod was superstitious and believed John had come back to haunt him since Herod beheaded John. The crowd that followed him were happy that he handed out free food. They were not interested in who he was as long as they were fed.

The Lord Jesus sent out the twelve and gave them authority to preach and drive out demons. From this experience they should have known who he was. When he walked on the water they thought he was a ghost.

Who is Jesus? This is the question every person will face one day. "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11)

The Lord Jesus went back to Nazareth. The people in Nazareth were offended by his ministry. They said they knew everyone in his family. Who did he think he was? People today act like this still. It is especially heartbreaking when family and friends reject a man's ministry. The Lord Jesus could not do much because of the unbelief in these people. The Lord Jesus was unable to do much because of unbelief in people. This shows us that we should always walk in faith and completely cast ourselves upon God to intervene in our lives. We need to exercise our faith and reach out to the Lord Jesus expecting that he can help us.

The Lord Jesus commissioned the twelve disciples and gave them authority. He gave detailed instructions on what to bring and not to bring on their journey. They were in a ministry where they lived by faith in regard to provision. If their ministry was rejected the Lord Jesus told them to knock the dust off their sandals on the way out of town. Notice how specific were the Lord's instruction to his disciples in ministry. In the context of that specific time period the Lord gave them a list of things to do, not do, to carry, to not carry, and how to respond to rejection.

The Lord also wants to give us instructions for living the Christian life today. There are specific boundaries for ministry which we need to learn and adhere to in relating to people.

King Herod thought the Lord Jesus was John the Baptist reincarnated. We see this superstition of reincarnation is nothing new. All of these superstitions and fables we hear today are nothing new. Nothing is new under the sun. Unbelievers always find a way to pervert truth according to their guilty consciences.

Herod murdered John the Baptist. John was beheaded in prison because of the manipulation of seducing women.

The apostles report back to the Lord Jesus and he instructed them to take time off to rest. It was refreshing to see here how the Lord was as concerned for rest as he was for work. The Lord Jesus led them to take rest but the crowd followed them and they had little time for a break. The Lord Jesus had compassion on the crowd. They were like sheep without a shepherd.

The Lord Jesus challenged the disciples to meet the physical need of the crowd. They brought him some pieces of bread and fish. The Lord Jesus took the little they had, some bread and fish, and fed the multitude. Twelve baskets of leftovers were gathered after everyone was full.

This miracle of feeding five thousand was recorded several times in the gospel accounts. The Lord fed people with bread like he did with Israel in the wilderness. To Israel he gave manna from heaven. Here he fed the people with bread. The point is that the Lord himself is our provider. We are deceived if we believe we provide for ourselves. Any job the Lord allows us to have is a gift from him. The Lord assigns us our tasks. Let us work with all of our heart for the Lord and not for men. It is the Lord who rewards us for faithful labor. The Lord is our rewarder.

Hebrews 11:6, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

Colossians 3:23-34, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ."

The Lord Jesus instructed his disciples to take the boat and cross the sea. He sent away the crowd and sought isolation so he could pray. Later he went out to the disciples walking on the water. Peter's walking on the water is missing in the account of Mark. Perhaps this is because Peter was influential in the writing of this gospel account.

The crowd continued to find the Lord Jesus on the other side of the sea.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

Casting Out The Devil and Raising The Dead – Mark 5

There was a demon-possessed man who lived in the region of the Gadarenes. This was an area populated by Gentiles. This account of the demon possessed man in the Gadarenes is the most descriptive and graphic account in the Bible of someone tormented by demons. Here was a man with a legion of demons. Those demons drove the man crazy. He lived among the tombs and cut himself with stones. He did not wear any clothes and could not be restrained by neighbors. We don't know how the man got into this situation but we know how he escaped.

The Lord Jesus showed up and immediately the man ran to meet him. The demons knew the name of the Lord Jesus and they knew he was the Son of the most high God. They pleaded with him not to torment them or send them away. The demons recognized the Lord and pleaded with him that he would not send them into the abyss. The abyss was where evil spirits were confined. They suggested that he allow them to go into a herd of pigs nearby. I don't think the Lord Jesus showed mercy to these demons by sending them into the pigs. The Lord cast the demons out of the man and they went into the pigs which then turned around and threw themselves off a cliff and into the sea. Not even the pigs could tolerate the demons.

The man was set free from what could have been as many as 6,000 demons. A Roman legion was 6,000 soldiers, so we can assume that was the number of demons which possessed the man. The demons tortured and tried to obliterate the image of God in the man.

Once the man was free he wanted to follow the Lord Jesus. He begged the Lord Jesus to allow him to go with Him. The Lord Jesus did not permit him but instead told him to go home and tell his family what the Lord had done for him.

Perhaps the Lord Jesus knew this man was a father and his children needed him. Maybe he had a wife who needed him. Maybe he had aging parents who needed him. Perhaps the proof of divine intervention in his life would be a testimony to his family and bring them to God. Or perhaps, after being tormented for so long the man was simply unable physically or mentally to deal with the stress of discipleship.

I can relate to this account in a lot of ways. The Lord interrupted my life when I was a young man in a similar manner. I don't think I was as far gone as this man but certainly I was headed in the same direction. The Lord stopped me and delivered me from demons of drug addiction, alcoholism, and all manner of evil in my life.

I know I was set free from demons just like this man because I changed immediately when the Lord touched me. When the Lord filled me with the Holy Spirit I changed instantly like someone had turned on a light switch. I still had plenty of emotional issues to work through for years, but the immediate transformation in my life was profound. The devil will stunt a man's maturity so he can't learn and grow and mature. It took several years of catching up before I could stand on my own two feet in life. Perhaps this was why the Lord told this man to just go home and share with others his testimony.

Another important thing to notice here is that the Lord Jesus exposed the name and activity of these demons. The Holy Spirit taught me a lesson about names and numbers. The world system works by creating a name and bringing numbers underneath it to produce power, prestige, and position. This is how evil spirits in the world system operate.

This was how these demons worked to destroy this man. When the Lord exposed the name and numbers of these evil spirits it reminds me of the account of the tower of Babel in Genesis 11. Those people at the tower of Babel said that they wanted to make a name for themselves. Instead of scattering all over the earth they wanted to concentrate their numbers in one place. By concentrating their numbers under a name they created power, position, provision, and protection.

This is exactly the same method which every corporation and business and government uses today. They create a name. Then they build power under a name through numbers of people.

When the Lord Jesus exposed these demons he exposed the work of the principalities and powers of darkness and how they operate. (See also Ephesians chapter 6).

When the Lord Jesus returned across the lake he was approached by a synagogue ruler whose daughter was dying. He asked Jesus to come and heal her. As the Lord Jesus was on his way to help this synagogue ruler another woman touched the Lord's garment and was immediately healed from her sickness of bleeding.

By the time he arrived the girl appeared to be dead but the Lord Jesus said she was only sleeping. When Jesus raised the girl he took with him Peter, James, and John and the girl's parents.

Mark 5:41-42, "And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment."

Notice that when the Lord Jesus spoke his word that the dead girl rose immediately from the dead. The results were immediate and profound.

We know from other scripture that death for Christians is often referred to as sleeping because it is not a permanent situation. This is how the Lord works in those he raises from spiritual death.

This reminds me of another scripture: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)" (Ephesians 2:4-5) We are made alive by the Holy Spirit of God. We are raised from being dead in sins, and made alive with Christ!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

The Lord Spoke In Parables – Mark 4

The Lord Jesus taught several parables. I won't cover the meaning of these parables because what caught my attention was this: "The secret of the Kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables..." [verse 11] Also verse 34, He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples he explained everything.

It was better to have the Lord Jesus than to have his parables. Those who had the Lord Jesus had his word, his teachings, parables...everything. Many people had his parables and teachings. It is possible some of these people took his parables and created a religion. But they didn't have the Lord Jesus himself.

I would rather have the Lord Jesus. I would rather sit with the Lord Jesus even in silence. I would rather be with the Lord Jesus than have the mystery of the universe explained.

I'm not diminishing bible study, doctrine, or teaching. I'm saying that without the presence of the Lord Jesus all these things become external religion.

The Lord Jesus explained why he spoke in parables when there were crowds of people around.

Not everyone in the crowd believed what he said. By speaking in parables he invited those who wanted to know more to come closer. But those who did not believe would assume he told them children's stories. In this way the Lord showed mercy to those who did not believe. It is one thing to turn away from a story but it is another to turn away from the truth spoken plainly.

The more truth we hear the more we are accountable. The Lord showed mercy to those who did not believe. The Lord takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked or the punishment they receive. He shows mercy in every way possible even when he taught them what would save them if they would believe. Men have free will and must choose to believe. God does not force anyone to believe and trust in him.

These were parables which described the kingdom of God. His first parable was about sowing seed into different kinds of soil.

The Lord explained the seed was the word of God. Birds who ate up the seed sown by the wayside represented Satan and demons.

The seed which fell in rocky soil represented a man who heard the word of God gladly but quickly fell away when tested.

Another type of soil was burdened with thorns. This was the man who heard God's word but the cares of life, riches, and pleasures choked the word of God and he was unfruitful.

Finally, the good soil represented men who received the word of God into a good heart and who bore fruit in various degrees of success.

The Lord Jesus compared the kingdom of God to crop growth. A man planted his seed in the ground, and then God caused the harvest. When the harvest came then the sickle was put in and the fruit was gathered.

He also compared the kingdom of God to a mustard seed which was planted in the ground. However, this mustard grew into a monstrous tree which was so large that birds roosted in its branches. In the first parable birds represented the servants of Satan so we understand this tree grew to an abnormal size and provided a place for the workers of Satan. This is what we see in mega churches today.

The Lord Jesus told his disciples to get into a boat and travel to the other side of the lake. While the Lord Jesus slept in the boat a storm arose which was so fierce the disciples feared for their lives. They awoke the Lord Jesus and he spoke to the wind and waves and it was calm. They were amazed and wondered what kind of man commanded the wind and the waves to obey him!

The Lord Jesus asked them a piercing question at that moment: "And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?" (Mark 4:40)

Fear of death will not accompany faith in God. Those who fear have not kept their mind fixed on our loving heavenly Father. The Lord is our provider, our protector, and he is our portion.

Isaiah 26:3, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee."

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com

The Family of the Lord Jesus – Mark 3

What stands out to me was when the Lord's family thought he was out of his mind in verse 21. Why did his family think that? He explained that his real family were those who obeyed God's will. The Lord Jesus considered his earthly family of secondary priority to his spiritual family. How true this was in my life! Many times I had closer fellowship with Christians than I did with my natural family!

Crowds grew larger as they followed the Lord Jesus. The Lord Jesus appointed twelve apostles to help him. This reminds me of how God told Moses to choose tribal leaders to help govern Israel. I think it is a good idea when a Christian leader shares responsibility in ministry with other mature Christians. This was what Paul did when he appointed elders in churches. This was the case in the early church when they chose seven men to wait on tables. Everybody had a job to perform.

Mark 3:35, "For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother."

The Lord Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath day and was hated by the religious leaders. When the Lord Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath day the religious leaders were so angry they discussed how they might destroy him. They understood that he did not fit into their religious world system. Yet he obviously expressed authority which they did not have. He healed people and cast out devils.

They accused Jesus of casting out devils by the power of the devil.

The Lord Jesus replied to this accusation with simple logic. How can Satan cast out Satan? Every house divided against itself cannot stand.

Here we see that the Lord Jesus taught that Satan does have a kingdom of devils and demons. The devil is the head of an evil house.

The Lord Jesus warned them not to accuse him of casting out devils by the power of the devil. His critics were close to an unforgivable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

When men reject the work of the Holy Spirit there is no hope left for salvation.

While the Lord Jesus taught this crowd then someone else informed him that his family looked for him. Notice the Lord's reply when they told him that his family looked for him. The Lord Jesus said that those who hear God's word and obey it were his family. Those who hear and obey God were his brothers, and sisters, and mother. The family of the Lord Jesus are those who hear and obey God's word. The Lord Jesus said if a man loved him then this love could appear as hatred toward family members sometimes.

Luke 14:26, "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple." Our love for the Lord Jesus will at certain times make it seem to the world as if we hate our families.

It is difficult and takes the power of the Holy Spirit to obey the Lord Jesus when it appears to others that by obeying him we hate our family.

The most loving thing we can ever do for family is love the Lord Jesus first. We must love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength. This love is sometimes a correction to family and friends. A life of consecration is a correction to those who do not follow the Lord Jesus. They will think we hate them. They will think we are judging them or that we hate them. I know this from experience, believe me.

In reality we do indeed love our family but we love the Lord Jesus first and we love the Lord Jesus more. By loving the Lord Jesus we do what is best for them. By allowing Jesus Christ to shine through us we show God's love.

Proverbs 27:5-6, "Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."

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The Bride of Jesus Christ – Mark 2

The religious leaders tried to bring the Lord Jesus under control. The Lord Jesus explained through his parables that he was new wine which would not be contained by old wine skins. He would not fit into their system of dead religion.

They attempted to prove that the Lord Jesus broke scriptures by his different methods of ministry. They thought he blasphemed when he publicly forgave a man. They criticized him for eating and drinking with sinners. The Lord Jesus was criticized for not fasting like the Pharisees and John's disciples. He was criticized for not observing the Sabbath.

The Lord Jesus did not fit into a religious system. I wonder today how much people try to fit God into a religious system. I wonder if the Lord Jesus walked among us as a visible man if people would criticize him today as he was then.

The Lord Jesus lived in a religious environment where religious leaders controlled everything. The religious leaders did not perform their duties for the benefit of the people. The Lord Jesus described them as putting burdens on people and did not lift a finger to help them. Instead, they operated like the world system. They lorded themselves over people. They loved prestige, position, and power.

The Lord Jesus forgave sins. A man who could not walk was let down on a bed through a roof where Jesus taught. His friends had faith that the Lord Jesus would heal him. When the Lord saw their faith he told the sick man that his sins were forgiven. The religious leaders challenged the authority of the Lord Jesus to forgive sins. The Lord Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked them which is easier: to forgive sins or to heal the man. To prove his authority to forgive he then healed the man. He told the man to pick up his mat and go home. The man was immediately healed, picked up his mat, and obeyed the word of the Lord Jesus.

The Lord Jesus called Levi the tax collector as his disciple. During that time the Lord Jesus ate with Levi and Levi's friends who were tax collectors and sinners. The religious leaders used this occasion to accuse the Lord Jesus. In their mind because the Lord Jesus ate with tax collectors then he must be a sinner also. The answer the Lord Jesus gave turned their entire logic on its head. He told them that he did not call the righteous to repent but sinners. This was the job which they, the religious leaders, should have done.

The disciples of Jesus did not fast. This provided the critics of Jesus another opportunity to slander him. However, this also provided the Lord Jesus with an opportunity to reveal himself. He used the picture of the Jewish wedding to describe who he was and who his disciples were in relationship to him. He painted a picture of his disciples as a bride and he was a bridegroom. The true church of Jesus, the remnant of overcoming Christians, is the bride of Jesus Christ.

The disciples of the Lord Jesus did not follow Sabbath rules which the religious leaders created for the people. They picked corn on the Sabbath which broke the man-made religious rules. The Lord Jesus taught us that man is not made for the Sabbath. The Sabbath was made for man. The Lord Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. He is the fulfillment of this Old Testament shadow. He is our Sabbath. He is our day of rest. He is God's rest for us. We can rest in the Lord Jesus Christ and fulfill the law of the Sabbath. Whenever I hear men who try to bring others into the bondage of Sabbath day keeping I know they are deceived and deceiving other people. They do not understand what Christ did for us in his death, burial, and resurrection.

I am thankful for all of these examples of the Lord Jesus correcting the religious leaders. It provides us with a good understanding of how to avoid religious traps in churches and around religious people.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit mikekines.substack.com