As Christ-followers we are to follow Christ! The Apostle Paul understood this when he wrote, “Follow my example as I follow Christ” (1 Cor 11:1). In our text today we see a characteristic of Jesus we should follow; the compassionate healing of the deaf and mute man. Do you lean more toward compassion or indifference? A simple way to discern this is with your answers to these 3 questions:

1. Did you cry when Bambi’s mom died?

2. Did you cry when Brian Piccolo died?

3. Do you cry during Hallmark shows?

Jesus enters the region of the Gentiles. He leaves behind the cries of the Pharisees to “crucify him” and enters the area to inaugurate the plan to bring salvation to the world (John 3:16). He chooses a clever Greek, Syrian Phoenicia born woman to teach his Jewish disciples this lesson.

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving-kindness; according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation and renew a right spirit within me.

Psalm 51:1, 10-12

The world is not messed up, you are! John Newton had it right, “Amazing grace how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.” The Pharisees were concerned about the outside (unclean hands Mk 7:5). Jesus is concerned about the inside (“washing of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit” Titus 3:5-7).

Tradition gets so imbedded that it can hinder our relationship with God. God has always been more concerned with our insides (heart) than our outsides (hands). Jesus faced this hypocritical spirit in his day and so do we. God is not pleased when our tradition and information outweighs our transformation.

Mark begins his Gospel account by stating, “The beginning of the Gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

Jesus is commissioned by the Trinity

Jesus is tempted by the Devil

Jesus drives our demons, heals all types of diseases, teaches with authority, and feeds the 5,000. Yet it’s not until Jesus walks on water that the disciples are completely on board

It’s after this miracle and some “hard teachings” recorded in the Gospel of John (not in Mark) that many followers leave (John 6:53-69).  BUT NOT THE 12! 

It’s after Jesus walked on water they are “caught, hook, line and sinker,” to be committed Christ –followers.

W.C. Fields made famous a line he used in one of his movies, “Get away from me kid, you bother me.” Jesus on the other hand said this about kids, “Let the little children come to me, for to such belongs the Kingdom of God” (Mark 10:13) and, “Whoever welcomes a child in my name welcomes me” (Matt 18:3). Possibly the greatest miracle performed by Jesus was made possible by a small boy and his small lunch (John 6:9). Our ministry to children is one of the most important things our church can do!! Why?

God has many names in the Old Testament

• Elohim – God of Creation

• Jehovah – God the Redeemer

• Jehovah-rohi – God my Shepherd

• Jehovah-jireh – God who Provides

Anyone who grew up going to Sunday school has heard of the feeding of the 5,000. It’s one of 2 miracles recorded by all 4 Gospels (the resurrection is the other). In the story we see a compassionate Jesus who provides for the ordinary needs of the people (common grace). What can we learn from this famous miracle?