Tag Archives: Jesus

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes Mark 3:7-19

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

(PRT – Pastor Rick’s Translation)

vv. 7-8 And Jesus withdrew to the sea along with his disciples, but a great throng joined him from Galilee as well as from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, all the way from the other side of the Jordan and as far away as Tyre and Sidon; many people came to him, having heard the things he was doing.

vv. 9-10 And he directed his disciples to have a boat at the ready for him so that the throng might not crush against him; for he had healed so many that those who were suffering and sick were pressing against him trying to touch him.

vv. 11-12 And when the evil spirits saw him, they knelt before him and cried aloud declaring, “You are the Son of God.” And Jesus censured them all so that they would not make him known.

v. 13 Soon after, Jesus went up on the mountainside; and then he called to himself those he determined to be with him, and they joined him.

vv. 14-15 And he designated twelve whom he would call his apostles so that they could be with him as his followers, and so that he might send them out to proclaim the Good News and to have authority to send demons where they belong.

vv. 16-17 And he designated the Twelve and included in their number Simon Peter, and James, Zebedee’s son, and his brother John, whom he nicknamed Boanerges, or Thunder-sons.

vv. 18-19 Also, he included Andrew, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Alphaeus’ son, then Thaddeus and Simon the Zealot, and also Judas Iscariot who later betrayed him.

First impressions:

Just like with Matthew in the previous chapter, each person Jesus called uniquely brings who they are, what they’ve experienced, how the relate to each other, and where they excel or fall short. Each person in this set of 12 is there for a reason, they are there because they said yes to Jesus, they are there due to a personal specific invitation by name from God, and they were all asking the question “why me?”

Another Gospel account says Jesus went up to the mountain to pray. He drew away to a lonely place once again to be with his Father.

What uniquely identified each disciple? And each apostle? How they came to Jesus, how they needed him, where they ended up?

Illustration: The Roma revival in Romania led to 75% of the city in worship and where nearly all the bars shut down. And this in a region where alcoholism is devastating, especially among men.

Illustration: The Revival in the coal mines of England. When George Whitfield preached to the coal miners in Bristol, each saw the need for a doctor because he or she was sick, for a savior for each knew the sin that only a savior could forgive. Whitfield, while preaching on top of a rock to 10’s of thousands, said the streams of tears pours from eyes and cut a path down the coal-blackened faces.

Illustration: The fingerprint has been used for over a century to detect the presence of a criminal at the scene of a crime. Like the fingerprint, our voiceprint, retina imprint scan, and even our toe print each are unique to us and can be used to identify us. Did you know that even our kiss print is unique to each of us? They don’t use this in CSI since most criminal don’t use their lips in the act. God has made each unique:

  1. Unique blending of gifts, passions, talents and experiences.
  2. Unique nexus with people who they relate to.
  3. Unique calling to walk the path and reach the potential in the journey with Jesus.

Illustration. How many indicators does fb use to build a person’s profile and target his or her potential? Did you know that you have at least 52,000 aspects that make you unique? At least FB thinks so. 52,000 data points that their algorithms collect information on.

Verse by Verse:

vv. 7-8 And Jesus withdrew to the sea along with his disciples, but a great throng joined him from Galilee as well as from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, all the way from the other side of the Jordan and as far away as Tyre and Sidon; many people came to him, having heard the things he was doing.

How big a territory did this the throng come from? What did they have in common? 100 or more miles away, from the desert to the sea, from villages to walled cities. Like chapter two says, they knew they needed a doctor, a savior.

vv. 9-10 And he directed his disciples to have a boat at the ready for him so that the throng might not crush against him; for he had healed so many that those who were suffering and sick were pressing against him trying to touch him.

Interesting that, before this Jesus spoke in the synagogues. Now the living room and the boat became his places to proclaim the Good News.

The multitude or crowd pressed against each other and Jesus. He wanted to be able to continue to proclaim and demonstrate the Kingdom but couldn’t for the crush.

They weren’t dangerous except in their desperation. They weren’t out to get Jesus; only to get what Jesus brought hope to them that they might receive.

The word for sick is the word for plague, stricken with deep suffering, as if they had been whipped by the enemy with a scourge or cat-o-nine-tails.

vv. 11-12 And when the evil spirits saw him, they knelt before him and cried aloud declaring, “You are the Son of God.” And Jesus censured them all so that they would not make him known.

Each time a demon recognized Jesus, they submitted before him and declared who he was. Each time, Jesus censured the spirit and closed its mouth.

This was a continuous action account. The demons would see him, they would fall down before the King of Kings and he would admonish them to silence over and over, one at a time.

The word can be censured or demanded or admonished them to be quiet.

v. 13 Soon after, Jesus went up on the mountainside; and then he called to himself those he determined to be with him, and they joined him.

Prior to this, the organization needed to train a group to take his teaching further had not formed. Here was a pivotal decision. Of course, Jesus would need to spend time with the Father before initiating this brilliant plan. The Twelve, His Apostles.

Some say he invited a group from the throng to join him on the mountainside; then spent the night in prayer and invited twelve to be with him and to be trained.

vv. 14-15 And he designated twelve whom he would call his apostles so that they could be with him as his followers, and so that he might send them out to proclaim the Good News and to have authority to send demons where they belong.

With Him, Sent from Him. Both are needed to do what Jesus did and complete the mission. Though we might relish lingering in God’s presence in worship, prayer, His refreshing presence; we go out, engage the enemy in prayer, and bring the values of the Kingdom to lives.

vv. 16-17 And he designated the Twelve and included in their number Simon Peter, and James, Zebedee’s son, and his brother John, whom he nicknamed Boanerges, or Thunder-sons.

The apostles often show up in threes and fours. In this case Peter/James/John, Andrew/Phillip/Bartholomew (also known as Nathaniel), Matthew (also known as Levi)/Thomas/James, and Thaddeus (also known as Jude or Judas)/Simon/Judas Iscariot.

Boanerges means sons of thunder or sons of tumult.

vv. 18-19 Also, he included Andrew, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James, Alphaeus’ son, then Thaddeus and Simon the Zealot, and also Judas Iscariot who later betrayed him.

Matthew is the same person who was Levi in the previous chapter who lived in the booth but never experienced the journey, till now. Thaddeus is also called Judas or Jude. Bartholomew is also known as Nathaniel. Like every culture, friends call friends by different names and nicknames.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes Mark 2:13-17

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Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

v. 13 Then, he went out again beside the sea and all the crowd showed up near to him and he taught them.

v. 14 And as he was passing along the way, he saw Levi, Alphaeus’s son, stationed at the tax collection booth. “Follow me,” Jesus says; and getting up, Levi followed him.

v. 15 Then things worked out so that Jesus and his disciples were dining at Levi’s house and enjoying a meal with many tax collectors and sinners because many of them followed him.

v. 16 When the legal experts of the Pharisees saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why is it that he eats with these tax collectors and sinners?”

v. 17 And having heard, Jesus says to them “Those who are strong and healthy see no need for a doctor, but those who are sick and in a bad way do. I came to call the sinful, not those who consider themselves righteous.” (Pastor Rick’s Translation)

First impressions:

The flow of time means something here. He left the house in Capernaum and headed to the lake (Sea of Galilee). His popularity causes word of mouth to bring the crowd together and he taught them. After, it would seem, he finished teaching as was walking along, he saw Matthew (Levi) in his tax assessor’s booth, either back in town, or near where the fishing cooperatives brought their catch in. Fishing was the main industry in Capernaum.

My guess is that Matthew had heard Jesus teach by the waterfront. In fact, it could be that Matthew has watched Jesus with his other disciples and longed to express his devotion; but was unwilling because he assumed he was an outcast And Jesus knew he was ready.

v. 17 is pivotal. Jesus makes a juxtaposition. And he takes the legal expert-Pharisees at their word assuming they are “the righteous” and the people he gravitated toward are “the sinners.” Yes, he would rather hang out with those who know they need him. A Pharisee who knows he needs Jesus is just as welcome as the greediest tax collector.

 The sick people know their need for a doctor’s visit. The sinners know their need to hear the call for a relationship with the Father. Sinners were defined by the religious structure as outside the rigors of the legal code in their religion. This includes a wide range of people with attitudes, including Roman employees like tax collector.

  • How can you and I discover calling? Steps.
  • What do I bring with me into my calling?
  • Is there a special calling we can experience? At the party, many followed; on the street, one was called.

v. 13 Then, he went out again beside the sea and all the crowd showed up near to him and he taught them.

Jesus loved the seashore and craved fresh air, especially if this is after healing in closed quarters in the crowded house. A few followed him out there, spread the word, and the crowds found him and surrounded him again. It really does look like sheep without a shepherd.

v. 14 And as he was passing along the way, he saw Levi, Alphaeus’s son, stationed at the tax collection booth. “Follow me,” Jesus says; and getting up, Levi followed him.

The word for follow comes from “together plus the road.” Stick together is another translation of this word – together from the road. God is pulling people from all walks, all roads, all destinations, to do life together, to reach those we are on the road with.

The village of Capernaum was a nexus point on the Roman roads between the major cities of Tyre, Damascus and Jerusalem and important for tax collection. The tax booth was not an optional, out-of-the-way spot. If you carried goods, or fish, or other possible taxable stuff, you had to go through their gateway.

Follow me along this different road was significant for Levi. After all, he was the one person among them who most benefited from what traveled down these roads and poured into Rome’s tax system. He overcharges so he could be rich at Simon’s expense, James’ expense, etc. That’s why the tax collector was often listed with sinners, prostitutes.

Levi was probably his known name in Capernaum. He took the name Matthew as the disciples coalesced into a team as Mark 3 mentions his new name.

Matthew was from a despised class. The disciples were not about to relate to a tax collector, but Jesus embraces him. Today, who Jesus saves is not our concern. We might pray “God so and so is such a lovely person, please save him or her.” But Jesus didn’t come for lovely people. He came to love the lost, the hurt, the ugly, etc. Jesus keeps embracing what others push away. Who in your life is the least likely to say yes? That’s who to pray for this week.

Illustration: How God is saving in the other nations? Who he is saving? The gypsy-Roma: While Susan and I lives in Europe, we frequently came across gypsys or Roma people. They were outcasts and mistrusted in every city in Europe. The Roma relate in communities and tribes all over Europe and here in America. Since the 1950’s a growing revival has been moving through the communities in France when a missionary began helping the Roma’s find hope through learning the language and how to follow Christ; and it spread through Spain, and Romania. Many are unable to hold citizenship as illegals, but what many call a “hidden revival” with Roma Gypsy churches forming to help them grow and reach their communities. Jesus looks to the outcast.

v. 15 Then things worked out so that Jesus and his disciples were dining at Levi’s house and enjoying a meal with many tax collectors and sinners because many of them followed him.

A sort of revival had begun in the ranks of IRS agents toward God. The message of Jesus, the changed lives of people like Levi, and the embrace of a Savior who forgives, knows them by name, restores them to the Kingdom, brings salvation to this unlikely group of people

It’s like seeing the Gypsies come to Jesus.

v. 16 When the legal experts of the Pharisees saw him eating with sinners and tax collectors, they said to his disciples, “Why is it that he eats with these tax collectors and sinners?”

Keep in mind that “these sinners” are the very ones Jesus came to feast with and bring to salvation and restoration. It’s these very sinners that the Pharisees sought to separate from. Pharisee means separated ones, as in we don’t associate with the common rabble. The wording indicates they said it rather than ask it – as if it were given that this was a horrid thing to do. I can even hear the entitled and privileged tone “why does he bother to eat with such people and risk being unclean.”

It seems that, since the Pharisees had already passed judgment on Jesus, they had sent their lawyers to begin making a case to condemn Jesus.

v. 17 And having heard, Jesus says to them “Those who are strong and healthy see no need for a doctor, but those who are sick and in a bad way do. I came to call the sinful, not those who consider themselves righteous.”

This passage is wide open for interpretation since Jesus is using a metaphor alongside a repetition of what the scribes said. They considered themselves righteous and without need of a Savior, and everyone not “in their camp” sinners, sinful, and beyond redemption apart from aligning with their code. Jesus took their position and made it clear that he wasn’t “in their camp” when it comes to who he associates with.

Called to salvation, called to love God with all we are, called to be the bridge to reconcile others to the Father, and called to God’s purpose – that is, to make Jesus known through our lives and words.

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes – Mark 1:14-15, 35-39

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Pastor Rick’s Translation (PRT):

v. 14 And after John’s surrendering over to custody, Jesus came into Galilee announcing the Good News of God. v. 15 And he proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is near; repent and believe the Good News.”

v. 35 And very early in the morning, a great while before the sun had risen, Jesus went out and turned aside to a solitary place and there was praying. v. 36 And Simon and those with him searched hard for him. v. 37 Then, after they found him, also said to him, “Everyone seeks you.” v. 38 Then, Jesus said to them, “Let’s take another way towards the towns nearby so that I might proclaim the Good News openly there; after all, it’s for this I have gone public. v. 39 And going from place-to-place all around Galilee he was preaching in their assemblies and sending demons where they belong.

Did John have to leave the scene in order for Jesus to step into the Good News of the Kingdom? John was placed in the dungeons of Herod. Jesus preaches the Good News on the heels of John’s repentance message. They go hand-in-hand. Good News is just that for those who turn from a “me-centered life” toward a Jesus-centered life.

The Kairos has filled up and, in that moment, the Kingdom has come near. Our response is to repent and throw ourselves into the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of time came, God sent His Son Jesus.

In relation to time. Jesus in Mark 1 declared about the Kingdom present, “it’s here,” in John 12 declared about the Kingdom victory through the Cross, “it’s time,” and on the Cross in Luke about the Kingdom redemption and restoration, “it’s finished.”

v. 35 And very early in the morning, a great while before the sun had risen, Jesus went out and turned aside to a solitary place and there was praying.

This early morning prayer time is after a full day of ministry, teaching and demonstrating the Gospel of the Kingdom. Jesus has definitely entered the fray and stepped into what He came to do. Defeat the enemy, bring life and salvation to people.

For this area, deserted places were hard to find as most of the land around Capernaum was farmland. But Jesus turned aside from the path and found a deserted or isolated place.

That battle includes a time of refreshing as well as a time for intercession. Refreshing in the Father’s presence; intercession for the mission He will accomplish.

Jesus was able to leave the house in Capernaum – Simon Peter’s family home, since he also healed his wife’s mom, walk a distance toward the Sea of Galilee and find a deserted place in order to pray.

“And there, praying.” Instead of the more used “there he prayed” this captures that he spent an extended time praying. The verse indicates the “watch of 3 to 6 am.”

For Power and for Refreshing.

Jesus demonstrates the weapons of battle – prayer, fasting, and rest.

v. 36 And Simon and those with him searched hard for him.

The word for searched is “followed” but also with diligence, with intense pursuit. Hence “searched hard” for Him.  A possible translation might be “went after him with intense desire and effort” – but that’s too intense. Simon is likely telling the story to Mark as he writes. The success and popularity of the previous day needed to be exploited in his mind; Jesus however had a different plan and calling.

It’s the same word the Psalmist uses in Psalm 23 – surely goodness and mercy shall search hard after me.

In Peter’s defense, he knew there were many who would want to hear Jesus and needed to be healed.

v. 37 Then, after they found him, also said to him, “Everyone seeks you.”

v. 38 Then, Jesus said to them, “Let’s take another way towards the towns nearby so that I might proclaim the Good News openly there; after all, it’s for this I have gone public.

Jesus was there for Capernaum, but also for all the villages and towns around Galilee. This area of the Holy Lands had become quite the supplier for crops, animals, and manufacturing – so there were a lot of small villages who needed to hear the Good News and see Jesus demonstrate it through miracles and signs.

The words declare/proclaim/preach indicate publicly and openly; the phrase “for this is why I came forth” in light of this makes sense – it’s why I’ve gone public, stepped out of obscurity into the limelight.

v. 39 And going from place-to-place all around Galilee he was preaching in their assemblies and sending demons where they belong.

The word here is “cast out” (ekballo) as in, throw out from one place forcefully. It can also mean send away with a purpose or force. Jesus “sent demons packing” as Peterson translated. In other places he sent them from and to.

Jesus faced the worst in man and brought His best, the darkest and brought the light, the most infectious and repulsive and brought wholeness, life and freedom. In the final verses, Jesus faced what was arguably the worst someone could contract and suffer in the leprous man.

Leprosy was so bad that it became synonymous with the corruption of sin and hell. Lepers were forbidden to relate to others who were “clean” and had to exist outside of society and warn others lest they stumble into their midst.

Jesus broke all kinds of rules: he approached the leper, he communicated with the leper, he touched the leper, he was moved with compassion (some translations say “indignant”) that such a disease would cause such pain and the culture would allow such ostracism, and he healed him.

Then, he said, go and make the offerings and do what the culture we live in requires for the eight days to show you are healed as a “testimony to them” meaning the priests. It was the way he would enter back into worship and society. And since no one had ever been healed of leprosy, no priest had ever had to exact this offering from one healed.

The culture had labeled and identified people with leprosy by their malady. They were no longer people – they were lepers. What we experience, what we might suffer through, what we have battled, is not who we are – it might make us into what we become, but we are not wrapped up in the identity of “the leper.”

Two important beliefs surround this miracle:

  1. No one from Israel who had a long bout with leprosy had ever been healed (Elisha healed a Gentile military leader and God had used leprosy as a brief sign to the disobedient.) Leprosy had been named “punishment from the finger of God.” And the belief was that in order to be healed from leprosy, the Messiah would have to come and perform the miracle.
  2. That no one could touch a leper or anything unclean because the unclean would transfer to make the clean unclean.

Jesus changed all of this! He felt compassion for this man kneeling before Him. This was an incredible faith. The man was declaring that, if you can heal me, you indeed are Messiah.

Points to consider:

Who are you getting up early for? Who are you doing battle for? Who are you willing to entrust to the power of the spirit and move on for?  What are you facing that you need others to do battle for?

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes on Mark 1:1-15

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Pastor Rick’s Study notes:

Mark 1:1-15 (PRT – Pastor Rick’s Translation)

v. 1 The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ the son of God. As v. 2 it has been written recorded in Isaiah’s book, “See this, I send my messenger before you who will prepare the way for you.” v. 3 “the voice of one crying in the desert places, prepare the way of the Lord; make straight and level His path. v. 4 John came baptizing in the desert places and announcing a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins. v. 5 And all from the region of Judea and from Jerusalem went out to him and, confessing their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River. v. 6 And John was dressed in camel’s hair clothing with a leather belt around his waist living on locusts and wild honey. v. 7 And he preached, saying “He who comes after me is mightier than me, for whom I am not worthy to bend down and untie his shoestrings.” v. 8 “I baptized you with water; but beyond this, he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” v. 9 And it happened, that in those days of John’s preaching and baptizing, Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee came and was baptized by John in the Jordan. v. 10 And straight away, in that moment, as Jesus was rising up from the waters, he saw the heavens splitting open and the Spirit in the form of a dove descending to rest on him. v. 11 “You are my Son, the Beloved, in whom I am well-pleased,” came a voice out of the heavenlies. v. 12 And straight away, in that moment, the Spirit compels him deeper into the desert places. v. 13 And for forty days, Jesus was in the desert places being tempted by Satan and he was with the wild animals and the angels served him. v. 14 And after John’s surrendering over to custody, Jesus came into Galilee announcing the Good News of God. v. 15 And he proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is near; repent and believe the Good News.”

v. 1 The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ the son of God. As…

STUDY NOTES:

Mark’s account of the good news first declares that Jesus of Nazareth is both Messiah and son of God. The King who came and God with us.

v. 2 it has been written recorded in Isaiah’s book, “See this, I send my messenger before you who will prepare the way for you.”

The story of the Bible has been leading up to this point, to the time when the Father would send one to prepare the way for His Son. The creation. The Fall. The flourishing of man. The Family of Israel. The Judges. The King. The Division. The Captivity. All the Prophets throughout. All pointed to the Redemption and the Restoration the Good News brings.

v. 3 “the voice of one crying in the desert places, prepare the way of the Lord; make straight and level His path.

This passage is a royal welcome passage. Get the worn-out paths wide and level; prepare each step of the way so that the welcome celebration can happen. Why in the desert? Why does it start with John? Each Gospel writer began at a difference point of reference: Matthew with the genealogy to show the Jews that Jesus fit the prophecies, Luke with the birth of John as the miraculously sent forerunner, John with the pre-incarnate Christ. Mark with the message of John that sets the stage for Jesus.

With John’s quote here, the verses hearken to when this was originally spoken – to prepare the captives in Babylon for God’s intervention and nearness to rescue. A prophet’s words often have both near and far meanings.

v. 4 John came baptizing in the desert places and announcing a baptism of repentance for forgiveness of sins.

It could be “toward freedom or release from sin’s bondage.” He baptized to announce freedom from the guilt and bondage of sin was possible based on a heart that renounced and turned away from sin. This prepares the heart for restoration and redemption through the Good News of the Kingdom. Note that John preached the Kingdom come near; to preach the Kingdom present is reserved for King Jesus and His followers. John “came” – the word has a meaning of high importance, epochal.

John was baptizing Jews as if they were foreigners needing to enter the Kingdom of God. All of us need to repent, be baptized as a picture of this repentance, and see God’s hand of forgiveness.

v. 5 And all from the region of Judea and from Jerusalem went out to him and, confessing their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

This would put much of John’s ministry nearer to Jerusalem and Bethany than to Capernaum in Galilee. Did everyone? Not a literal “all” but all heard, and a steady stream of people entered the waters upon turning from sin and making the heart change of repentance. Certainly, all means all strata of the culture came to John’s baptism; tax gatherers, centurions, religions, businessmen, fishermen, rich and poor, etc.

v. 6 And John was dressed in camel’s hair clothing with a leather belt around his waist living on locusts and wild honey.

Quite the contrast from all other rabbinical lifestyles, John lived on what he found in the desert. The original bohemian lifestyle, a mashup of Essene, prophet, and Bedouin.

v. 7 And he preached, saying “He who comes after me is mightier than me, for whom I am not worthy to bend down and untie his shoestrings.”

The lowest of servants in a large household got the task of unstrapping guests’ sandals after their trek through the city and town streets filled with dust, refuse, and animal droppings. It was a lowly job; and John was not even that worthy. Let’s see how we feel doing that for a day. His perspective was spot-on. He is Lord of all, and we are not worthy; we are in by grace alone. And did Jesus find it the right illustration to do the same for each person in his circle of disciples – even the ones who doubted, denied, and betrayed him.

v. 8 “I baptized you with water; but beyond this, he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

What was the Baptizer’s pneumatology? What did he mean? I’m guessing that, on this side of the Pentecost outpouring, John saw prophetically the redeemed inundated with and immersed in the present and consuming Spirit that filled him when he preached. Both are needed. Often, one is emphasized over the other.

v. 9 And it happened, that in those days of John’s preaching and baptizing, Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee came and was baptized by John in the Jordan.

Jesus broke into the great work John was doing by humbly submitting to and sanctioning John’s baptism as a valid ministry that prepared people to receive the King. He came from a town so redneck that the normal rednecks laughed at it. A town that didn’t even warrant a mention in the Old Testament. It was a one-flashing stoplight town.

v. 10 And straight away, in that moment, as Jesus was rising up from the waters, he saw the heavens splitting open and the Spirit in the form of a dove descending to rest on him.

And let the “in that moment’s” begin, with the falling of the Spirit like a dove to rest on Jesus. The picture is incredibly vivid. John takes Jesus under the water and, just as the water clears Jesus’ eyes, the Father splits the heavenlies, opens the space between temporal and eternal, and sends in the form of a dove, the Spirit of God to rest on His Son. Father, Son, Spirit all declaring “in that moment.” Look up heavenlies in Ephesians (ouranon). In Ephesians, “heavenlies is “epiouranon” – that heaven above the heavens. God split open like a curtain the divide that separates the physical from the eternal, the earthly from the heavenly, and Jesus and John both at least saw the “heavenlies” that Paul writes of in Ephesians.

How many times does Mark use “straight away” or “immediately?” As many as 44 or more.

This is the same word used for splitting the curtain in the temple and letting us see into the holy places.

John saw this, too, as the Gospel of John records. So, the heavenlies were made visible from earth for Jesus and John to both see and hear what the Father was doing.

v. 11 “You are my Son, the Beloved, in whom I am well-pleased,” came a voice out of the heavenlies.

Jesus had not performed a miracle, preached a message, or begun a public ministry; he had satisfied the Father’s longing before a single act or word that would set his ministry apart. When we are satisfying to the Father, we serve well; we don’t serve to satisfy the Father. The Beloved = His own dear son.

Three times the Father breaks in with His voice – here, at the transfiguration and in the Temple after he cleanses it and declares “It’s time.”

v. 12 And straight away, in that moment, the Spirit compels him deeper into the desert places.

The same Spirit of God who affirmed Him now tests Him. Jesus is compelled further into the deserted places toward the Dead Sea. This is the place the OT calls the Desolation or Horrible Desolation.

The word here is the same as the Spirit compelling workers into the harvest.

v. 13 And for forty days, Jesus was in the desert places being tempted by Satan and he was with the wild animals and the angels served him.

The angels kept him safe, served him by providing drink and encouragement. They served like deacons to the point of need Jesus had. Desert places find a significant place in the story of the Good News and the story of God’s kids. We find victory in the midst of temptation; we find nourishment; we hear from God; we see angels.

1 John 3:8 Jesus came to destroy the works of the Devil. His first work after his baptism and infilling was to face the enemy in the desert places.

v. 14 And after John’s surrendering over to custody, Jesus came into Galilee announcing the Good News of God.

Did John have to leave the scene in order for Jesus to step into the Good News of the Kingdom? John was placed in the dungeons of Herod. Jesus preaches the Good News on the heels of John’s repentance message. They go hand-in-hand. Good News is just that for those who turn from a “me-centered life” toward a Jesus-centered life.

Between vv. 13 and 14, a lot happens. Jesus has met his first disciples, gone to a wedding in Cana, visited Jerusalem, met Nicodemus, purged the Temple the first time, and met the woman at the well on the way back to Galilee.

v. 15 And he proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is near; repent and believe the Good News.”

The Kairos has filled up and, in that moment, the Kingdom has come near. Our response is to repent and throw ourselves into the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of time came, God sent His Son Jesus.

Speak about time chronos, Kairos, etc. The perfect moment.

I’ve begun a series called Book-by-Book. This is a Chapter-by-chapter series.

In relation to time. Jesus in Mark 1 declared about the Kingdom present, “it’s here,” in John 12 declared about the Kingdom victory through the Cross, “it’s time,” and on the Cross in Luke about the Kingdom redemption and restoration, “it’s finished.”

What’s in a Name?

Points Along The Journey - Living A Missional Life, Studies in Listening to God, , , , , ,

It’s Easter and people are celebrating all around the world this weekend! Most are celebrating the beautiful gift of life and friendship with God through Jesus. Many are celebrating… Spring.

In the US, it seems our culture is hung up on what we call things. Schools, bridges, roads, buildings, and more are being renamed. I think it’s important to call things by their real name. Keep it simple and graceful.

When He was crucified, Jesus was called a lot of names. The last nail to be hammered into Jesus’ Cross fixed in place a sign over His head.

This sign met all the requirements for the international crowds in Jerusalem for the festival. Written in Latin, the legal system was satisfied. The Greek informed the “everyman” from everywhere on the street. And the Hebrew gave the religious what they wanted.

Or did it?

Each Gospel writer gives what he saw during the traumatizing and horrendous experience (they reported without contradicting). Matthew writes: This is Jesus, the King of the Jews. Mark, in typical brevity: The King of the Jews. Luke, writing to the nations included: This is the King of the Jews. John gives the most graphic account of the crucifixion: Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.

Film-makers set their scenes with focus on the “dominant” – the first place the eye goes. If you wandered into this crucifixion, your focus would be on the body of Jesus hung in humiliation to die a painful death. But the “next dominant” is important to the scene, too. After the shock of seeing the brutal results of the punishment, your eyes would escape the pain to the next dominant – the placard – to discover who this was and what warranted the brutality.

The placard was likely drawn in big black letters over a white graphite smeared background so people could see it. This epigraphae or titulus as is was called was the second thing people would see.

THIS IS JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS

The religious hierarchy wasn’t happy and wanted a clarification (Jesus claimed to be king). Pilate, in a final jab of humiliation at the Jewish leaders, would leave the words with certainty.

Many who were present at the scene and even more in the near future would discover the Lord of Love and join the heavenlies in saying yes: He is King Jesus.

This is Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews. The scandalous cross initiated the invasion of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, one heart at a time.

Celebrating the Cross and the Resurrection!