Tag Archives: Mark

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes: Mark 4:30-34

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(Pastor Rick’s Translation)

v. 30 Then Jesus said, “What can we compare the Kingdom of God to, and what illustration can we draw a parallel with?”

v. 31-32 It’s like the mustard seed, the smallest seed in all the world, when it has been sown in the earth, it springs up and becomes bigger and taller than all the plants in the garden and produces great branches so that the birds of the sky can perch under its shade.

v. 33 And with many parables and illustrations like this, he taught them the word to the level they were able to understand.

v. 34 Indeed, he did not speak to them unless it was with parables; however, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything. (PRT)

Pastor Rick’s Study Notes:

First impressions:

The village of Capernaum was rich with illustrations: both agrarian and fishing became his canvas. Here, and elsewhere, we see Jesus picking up the images of seeds, weeds, planting and reaping. The one seed is significant in the Good News because of:

  • Potential – The Good News spreads because of the power resident inside it
  • Portability – The Kingdom goes everywhere because we represent Him everywhere.
  • Possibility – Seeds multiply.
  • One person, one invitation, one prayer, one truth shared.

v. 30 Then Jesus said, “What can we compare the Kingdom of God to, and what illustration can we draw a parallel with?”

Parallelism. Compare, illustrate. The word means to lay alongside another thing. Hence, parallel. Jesus wants us to understand the Kingdom of God. It is not like an earthly kingdom that needs a great army, huge budget, great egos; it is an invisible kingdom made up of many who are willing to die, to risk, to lose themselves for the sake of the King.

v. 31-32 It’s like the mustard seed, the smallest seed in all the world, when it has been sown in the earth, it springs up and becomes bigger and taller than all the plants in the garden and produces great branches so that the birds of the sky can perch under its shade.

“small as a mustard seed” was already a known comparison – anything small might be called this. In the south, knee-high to a grasshopper or sparse as hen’s teeth might fit.

Jesus here is turning a common phrase into an unforgettable principle. With God’s presence, even the smallest act in His name is sufficient to bring hope.

The seed dies.

The mustard seed isn’t the tiniest seed of all creation; but it is the smallest that a gardener in the region would plant. And for the gardener’s effort, a ten or twelve foot bush would grow with branches, shade, and sturdy trunk.

Birds of the heavens. Shadow is the word, but shade is what an animal might search for in the heat and sun.

v. 33 And with many parables and illustrations like this, he taught them the word to the level they were able to understand.

Keep in mind that this is not the “faith as a mustard seed” comparison. This is clearly a Kingdom comparison. The small, the unassuming, the invisible in willing obedience to the King grows to fill the skies.

Jesus, in John 16 even said to his own disciples, “I have many more things to share with you, but you can’t take it all in.”

Here, when talking with the crowds, he used illustrations alongside truth to draw them into understanding at the level they were able to. Keep in mind, the Holy Spirit had not come yet; it was the Presence of the Kingdom and the masterful teaching of the Rabbi-King that brought understanding and faith bloomed when it could.

v. 34 Indeed, he did not speak to them unless it was with parables; however, when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything.

When Jesus withdrew with his disciples, his own, he explained. The word is epiluo – more loosing, he untangled the meaning, he unraveled the perplexed thoughts they had. He made sense of it all.

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?