Monthly Archives: March 2021

Mark 7-Blind and Deaf

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And they bring unto him one that was deaf, and had an impediment in his speech; and they beseech him to put his hand upon him. And he took him aside from the multitude, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spit, and touched his tongue;And looking up to heaven, he sighed, and saith unto him, Ephphatha, that is, Be opened. And straightway his ears were opened, and the string of his tongue was loosed, and he spake plain. Mark 7:32-35

When we look at the healing of a blind and deaf man, this healing is more than just a physical healing, this healing is a confirmation that Jesus is the Messiah (Christ) As it is prophesied by Isaiah “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped” (Isaiah 35:5)

Jesus was demonstrating that He is the Messiah, Jesus was demonstrating that the New Covenant is a Better and more powerful Covenant! Jesus is demonstrating his Deity, that He is God in the flesh and can not only heal , forgive sin, and has authority over the natural and supernatural. 

And he charged them that they should tell no man: but the more he charged them, so much the more a great deal they published it; And were beyond measure astonished, saying, He hath done all things well: he maketh both the deaf to hear, and the dumb to speak. Mark 7:36-37

Jesus asked everyone not to talk about his healing and miracles yet, why? Because the hour has not yet come, for Christ to be glorified (John 12) The hour had not yet come for Jesus to go to the cross and pay the debt for our sins, the hour did not yet come for Christ to be risen , defeating sin and death forever!

However people were so astonished but his power and authority, that his fame spread throughout the regions. Jesus has not yet professed himself to be Christ, why? Because he wanted people to realize it for themselves. He wanted them to witness what he was doing and compare it to the scriptures of Isaiah, Daniel, Psalms, ect and say “Yes Jesus is the Messiah”

But we know, the world hates the light and loves the darkness, and Christ will be crucified because of the sin of the world, because of that loving sacrifice we can become Children of God Amen!

Mark 7- Crumbs From The Table

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For a certain woman, whose young daughter had an unclean spirit, heard of him, and came and fell at his feet: The woman was a Greek, a Syrophenician by nation; and she besought him that he would cast forth the devil out of her daughter. But Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled: for it is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it unto the dogs. Mark 7:25-27

Here we see a Gentile Woman coming to Christ for healing, this is significant as the New Covenant hasn’t been instituted yet, therefore this is a foreshadow of the New Covenant to come (Jeremiah 31) Jesus said “Let the Children (Israel) be filled first” Jesus was explaining to the Gentile Woman that he came to save the Jew first then the Gentile

Notice the language Jesus uses to describe Gentiles, “cast it unto the dogs” This was the view of the Gentile world in Israel at the time. It’s another demonstration of how amazing the New Covenant is, where Jew and Gentile are united together by the blood of Christ!

And she answered and said unto him, Yes, Lord: yet the dogs under the table eat of the children’s crumbs. And he said unto her, For this saying go thy way; the devil is gone out of thy daughter. Mark 7:28-29

Notice the humility of the woman, her response “The dogs under the table eat the crumbs” He faith in Christ was so strong that she was willing to humble herself, this is what true repentance looks like. Jesus was impressed by her response and demonstration of faith he said “For saying this I cast out the demon in your daughter”

Because of this great faith of the Gentile Woman, Jesus healed her daughter. Also notice the great demonstration of the New Covenant, as Christ has authority over the demon. Jesus is Lord over the supernatural and natural world

And when she was come to her house, she found the devil gone out, and her daughter laid upon the bed.  Mark 7:31

The Gentile Woman went home and found her daughter free from the demon. Her faith in Christ has made her well. This is a demonstration of the New Covenant, the woman received Christ because of her faith not because of her nationality. 

Are you willing to eat the crumbs from The Lord’s table? God draws near to the humble and resists the proud Amen!

Mark 7- What Defiles Us

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There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. Mark 7:15-17

Jesus made the statement “You are defiled by what’s within You” The Religious leaders were very careful to make sure they didn’t defile themselves from the outside by washing their hands, staying away from outsiders or lepers, ect, However Jesus is talking about a heart issue, not a cleanliness issue. 

As Jesus taught in Matthew 5 “Anyone who has already lusted after a woman has committed adultery in their heart” (Matthew 5:28) or “Anyone who hates his brother has already committed murder in their hearts “ (Matthew 5:22) Sin is a heart issue, its not a ritual issue. This is why Jesus stated we defile ourselves from within, Sin begins in our hearts. This is why we need to become Born Again, and have a clean heart and mind

And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. Mark 7:18-20

The disciples didn’t understand what Jesus was teaching them, remember they were raised in the Mosaic Law, therefore their mindsets were focused on the food laws and the customs. However Jesus is demonstrating the New Covenant here, by declaring that all foods are clean. Who else could do this but God alone?

For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. Mark 7:21-23

Jesus revealed to his disciples what he was talking about, its the evil from within that defiles us. Our thoughts, lust, blasphemy, pride, ect. These things contaminate  our hearts and make us perform evil deeds, this again is why we need to become Born Again (John 3)

The religious leaders thought they were righteous based on their outside works, but as Jesus stated they were “Whitewashed Tombs”, nice looking on the outside but dead on the inside, why? Because their hearts and minds were filled with evilness, they were defiled from within!

Mark 7- Traditions vs. God

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Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Mark 7:5-7

One of the great debates in Christianity, even today is the traditions of Man vs the commandments of God. The religious leaders truly believed that they were righteous men, over the years they created many man-made traditions and expected the people to keep them or they would be punished. Jesus was eating with “unwashed hands” , the religious leaders felt this was a good time to publicly scold Jesus for not keeping one of their traditions

Now the ironic thing is these men felt they were righteous because they washed their hands before they ate, yet they are also the ones who killed the Messiah. Now which offense is greater? Pretty common sense, Jesus was using the moment to exploit the religious leaders as being hypocritical in their teachings and judgement, as the prophet Isaiah foretold about them.

For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death: But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free. Mark 7:8-11

Now are all traditions bad? No of course not, for example most of the Christian Church today still celebrates Christmas for the birth of Christ. Was they ever commanded by Jesus to do? No, is it a harmful thing to do? No, actually a lot of good things come out of focusing on the virgin birth and the gospel of Christ. The only time when tradition becomes bad is when it is in opposition of God’s Law and when its used hypocritically

Jesus brought up the example of Corban, the religious leaders failed to take care of their elderly parents , breaking the commandment to honor your father and mother, instead gave their money to the temple as “Corban”. Jesus showed how hypocritical the religious leaders were, and they loved their religion more than they truly loved God

And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. Mark 7:13-14

Jesus explained, the traditions of the religious leaders were actually overriding The Law of God, the religious leaders basically we’re creating their own religion. We see this alot today, many groups just keep adding their own traditions and eliminating The Bible. 

We need to make sure everything we do and everything we say, is for the true love of God and not for our own hypocritical ways, Amen!

Mark 6- Be Not Afraid

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And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: Mark 6:47-49

After a long day of preaching and teaching, Jesus did what he always did, he went alone to pray to the Father. While he was praying, the disciples were in a boat when another storm came upon them. Jesus came to help them, but by unstandard means, we has literally walking on water.

When the disciples saw Christ defying the law of nature, they freaked out. Some even thought he was a ghost, but Jesus was revealing how he has power of the natural and the supernatural world. Jesus is Lord of All, just as he demonstrated his authority over the demons, he has the authority over the Heavens and the Earth

For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened. Mark 6:50-52

Jesus said to them “Be Not Afraid, I am with You” , Jesus is saying the same thing today to his Church. As one theologian said “A scared world needs a fearless Church” , Take Courage, the One who has overcome the world is walking with You! Yes the world is scary, Yes we have troubles and problems, but we also have a Risen Savior!

Notice Jesus immediately stopped the storm, Jesus is in complete control! The world may seem like its in total chaos, however God is still on the throne. The disciples witnessed the miracles of Christ, yet still hardened their hearts, do this sound familiar? Where is your faith?

Maybe you feel like your stuck in the boat right now, maybe your caught in the storms of life, Take Courage , Jesus is with you! Amen!

Mark 6- Feeding The Five Thousand

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And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things. And when the day was now far spent, his disciples came unto him, and said, This is a desert place, and now the time is far passed: Send them away, that they may go into the country round about, and into the villages, and buy themselves bread: for they have nothing to eat. He answered and said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they say unto him, Shall we go and buy two hundred pennyworth of bread, and give them to eat? Mark 6:34-37

Jesus began drawing major crowds, and he had great compassion for them as the Great Shepherd. At this point Jesus was teaching outside of Jerusalem in the desert, far away from civilization, it was starting to get late in the day and the disciples were worried about feeding all these people!

The disciples first thought was to send everyone away, however Jesus commanded “Give them something to eat” Jesus didn’t turn away anyone as the Good Shepherd. He had compassion and love for his Sheep. Notice the similarity between God feeding the Israelites in the Wilderness and Jesus feeding his people in the Wilderness!

The first thought and response of the disciples is, “How can we feed all these people”? They don’t have money or resources, however Jesus is asking them to have faith and trust in him. Just as he is asking us today to trust him also in the Wilderness!

He saith unto them, How many loaves have ye? go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes. And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. And they sat down in ranks, by hundreds, and by fifties. And when he had taken the five loaves and the two fishes, he looked up to heaven, and blessed, and brake the loaves, and gave them to his disciples to set before them; and the two fishes divided he among them all. Mark 6:38-41

Notice the symbolic number of 7 (5 loaves and 2 fish) as we know 7 is the Biblical number of completion. Jesus took whatever they had to offer, blessed it, and multiplied it. This should be a message to the Church, take the gifts that you have, and Christ will bless and use it for Gods glory!

Jesus blessed and broke the bread, does that sound familiar? A foreshadow of the Lords Supper, a foreshadow of his death on the cross. Jesus is breaking bread with his people and having fellowship with them, this is exactly what Communion is all about! Honoring our Lord and having fellowship with each other including Christ!

And they did all eat, and were filled. And they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments, and of the fishes. And they that did eat of the loaves were about five thousand men. Mark 6:42-44

Notice the symbolism of the 12 baskets, the 12 Apostles, the 12 tribes of Israel. God doesn’t do anything by mistake, this event is a revelation of who Jesus is and who we are because of Christ

Jesus is your Shepherd, Jesus is providing for you in the Wilderness, have faith in Him Amen!