Scripture

“The Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath.”

Observation

One Sabbath day Jesus and his disciples are walking through some fields The disciples break off heads of grain to eat.

Some Pharisees rebuke them for working on the Sabbath.

Jesus points out that there were times when King David broke the law by eating the sacred bread that only priests were allowed to eat.

The Sabbath was made for the sake of people, and not the other way around. The Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath

Application.

The Sabbath is God’s gift to humanity and gives everyone the opportunity to rest at least one day of the week.

In capitalist countries where worshipping money is more prevalent than worshipping the Lord, there is an expectation that shops and services be open seven days a week and preferably 24 hours per day.

Many people have been forced to give up a regular Sabbath day, whether it is Saturday or Sunday in order to comply comply with this demand.

I can remember a time when just about everything except essential services shut down on Sundays, even more so for Christmas Day and Good Friday. Sadly, this is no longer the case.

Perhaps lack of a Sabbath rest is partly responsible for the epidemic of chronic illnesses and mental health issues today.

While the Sabbath is a gift from the Lord, we must beware of the tendency to legalism here. Some Christians in the past tended to be critical of those who worked on Sunday. Let us rejoice in God’s gift without being churlish to those unwilling or unable to embrace it.

Listen

Lord, what do you want to say to me about Sabbath and legalism?

Keith, the abandonment of Sabbath observation is a sad indictment of greed.

When people ignore me, they will worship something, and in modern societies, the pursuit of possessions is a form of worship.

When you take the day off to rest and focus on me, this is a radical confrontation with the powers of darkness.

Sabbath rest means that you trust me to provide all that you need. It is related to tithing in that sense, and to generosity in general. Your focus is on something greater than on creature comforts.

Scripture

When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

Observation

Jesus goes to the lake to teach the crowds who come to him, he comes across the booth of Levi, that is Matthew, the tax collector and he instructs him to come and be his disciple. Levi gets up and follows him.

Levi invites Jesus and the disciples to his home, along with tax collectors and other so-called sinners The Pharisees see Jesus eating with these people, and they ask, “Why does Jesus eat with such scum?”

Jesus replies that it’s not the healthy people who need a doctor, but those who are sick. Likewise, Jesus did not come for those wo think they are righteous but for those who know they need a saviour.

Application

Jesus did not come for the self-righteous people who think they are right with God. He came for people who know they are sinners and that they need a saviour.

The problem in Western culture is that so many people are convinced that they are righteous. They are not sinners because they’ve never killed anyone or robbed a bank. They fail to see That we are all sinners because we are all self-centred.

A religious system based on laws and regulations cannot help because such a system leads either to despair or to self-righteousness. It deals with the outward behaviour, not with the heart.

Jesus is the only one who can set us free and restore us to the Father.

Listening

Lord, I’m always shocked by the attitude of the Pharisees towards those they call scum. What do you want to say to me about this?

Keith, those who think they acceptable to me will always find a reason to look down on those that they think are not good enough.

When I sent my Son into the world it was to those the system declared were broken beyond help or just plain sinful.

Christians can be guilty of this kind of self-righteousness. They forget that they were once the ones needing salvation, that they were once the people He used bad language or was sexually immoral, or abused drugs.

Stay humble before me. Don’t judge others for the sins that once held you in bondage.

Scripture

They couldn’t bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, so they dug a hole through the roof above his head, then they lowered the man on his mat right down in front of Jesus.

Observation

Jesus returns to his home into Capernaum. Word gets around, and the house becomes packed with visitors.

While Jesus is preaching, four men arrive carrying a paralysed man on a mat. Seeing that they cannot get close to Jesus, they climb up to the roof, dig a hole and lower the man on his mat right down in front of Jesus.

Seeing their faith, Jesus says to the paralysed man, “Your sins are forgiven.”

Some teachers of the law think to themselves that this is blasphemy. Jesus knows their thought processes, and He asks them if it is easier to heal a man than to forgive his sins.

Jesus then turns to the paralysed man and says to him, “Stand up, pick up your mat and go home.”

The main jumps up, grabs his mat, and leaves. Everyone is amazed at what God is doing.

Application

These men were desperate to get their friend to Jesus, so that He could heal him. They would not let the crowd of people block their way, so, they climbed onto the roof and dug a hole, and lowered the man down.

This is audacious faith, bold faith. They knew that Jesus would heal, so they took action based on their faith.

It wasn’t the paralysed man’s faith that impressed Jesus, but the four men who carried him.

When we are praying for healing or some other miracle, it doesn’t matter if the person involved has faith, as long as somebody has faith. We must believe that God will heal this person and then go before the throne of grace to intercede for them.

So listen carefully and take that audacious step of faith.

Listening

Lord, is there anything you want to say to me about this miracle?

Keith, the religious experts were too busy judging my words to experience a miracle. The young men just got on with doing what they needed to do to see their friend healed.

Never let your preconceived ideas stand in the way of a miracle. Listen to me and obey me. Give others the grace to see me in their own way and rejoice when healing and miracles happen, even when they seem strange.

You need to exercise both grace and discernment. As I move over this nation, evil spirits will arise to deceive the elect. You must be open to strange manifestations of my Spirit, but don’t let the manifestations of evil spirits lead people astray.

Scripture

But the man went and spread the word, proclaiming to everyone what had happened. As a result, large crowds soon surrounded Jesus, and he couldn’t publicly enter a town anywhere. He had to stay out in the secluded places, but people from everywhere kept coming to him.

Observation

Jesus heals. A man with leprosy. The leprosy disappears instantly, and the man is healed.

Jesus tells the man not to tell anybody, but instead to go to the priest with the required offering. This will be his testimony.

The man spreads the word everywhere and, as a result, large crowds surround Jesus. He cannot go anywhere publicly because there are too many people. Even when he stays in the secluded places, people come to Him.

Application

When God changes your life, you want to tell people, The leper was not only healed of a disease, he was released from poverty and social exclusion. It is not surprising that he wanted to tell people about what had happened.

For Jesus, the problem was that He now became conspicuous and would certainly come to the attention of the authorities.

Wherever He went, people would seek Him out. They were motivated by the miracles and healings. How many would be changed by his teaching?

There are people who come to church for the music, for the preaching, for the fellowship, but they never grow in the Lord. It is surface level christianity that never sinks into the soul.

We must let the Holy Spirit transform us from glory to glory.

Listening

Lord, what do you want to say to me about this passage?

Keith, I have provided many ways into the Kingdom. Salvation only comes through Jesus. But I draw people to myself in many different ways.

For some people, it is a dramatic conversion, but for others it is a gradual realisation. Some people see or hear something that starts a journey, that directs them to me.

You must pray for those who are in the crowd looking on but not really grasping the power of the Gospel. Satan has pulled the wool over many people’s eyes, but for many of them, just one glimpse of my glory is enough. Pray for the unsaved. Pray and do not give up.

Scripture

Before day break the next morning, Jesus got up and went to an isolated place to pray.

Observation

Jesus, James and John leave the synagogue and go to Simon and Andrew’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law is sick in bed with a fever. Jesus goes to her bedside and heals her.

That evening many sick and demonised people are brought to Jesus. He heals the sick people of all kinds of diseases and casts out many demons. Before sunrise the next morning, Jesus goes to an isolated place to pray.

When Simon and the others find Him, they tell Him that everyone is looking for him. Jesus tells them that He needs to go to other places as well to preach the Good News.

Application

There are times when Jesus was so inundated by people that He had to go somewhere quiet to pray.

Even the Son of God needed to refresh Himself in the presence of God. He needed to renew His strength by waiting on the Lord, and He needed to talk with the Father about the Father’s mission for Him.

We all need to maintain that connection with God in order to be effective for Him. This takes time and commitment. We must set aside time to be with the Lord, even if it means getting up early.

We must also find a place that is free of distractions.

Connecting with the Holy Spirit is as simple as this:

1. Stop. I clear my thoughts and concentrate on listening to God.

2. Look. I visualise Jesus with me Emmanuel – God is with us.

3. Listen. I listen to the spontaneous thoughts that God is speaking to me.

4. Write. I write down the conversation to make the thoughts concrete.

Listening

Lord, what else Do you want to say to me about prayer today?

Keith, as you have experienced, fellowship with me is a journey. It takes determination and consistency. Many people give up or stay in the shallow end when things get challenging. Many people just get overwhelmed by life and busyness and so fail to grow in me.

Prayer is simply stepping out of yourself – letting go of the addictions to activity and letting go of the ways of the world.

If Jesus got up early to pray, then all of my children can find time in their day to seek me.

Scripture

The people were amazed at his teaching for he taught with real authority – quite unlike the teachers of the religious law.

Observation

Jesus and his disciples go to Capernaum. On the Sabbath, Jesus goes to the synagogue to teach, People are amazed at his teaching for he has authority, unlike the teachers of religious law.

A demonised man starts shouting. “Why are you bothering us? Have you come to destroy us?” he shouts.

Jesus orders the demon out of the man. The spirit comes out immediately. This amazes the people even more, because Jesus has authority even over evil spirits.

Application

The teachers of religious law had very little authority in their teaching. They often just resorted to commenting on other, more famous, teachers. But they had nothing new to add of themselves.

The Spirit of God is alive and active. He is always showing us new truths from His Word. We can never fully exhaust the depths of God or of His holy Scriptures.

Jesus cut through the religious propaganda. He is the real truth, the holy Son of God. For that reason, every word he speaks carries the authority of God.

There is no greater authority.

Listening

Lord. What do you want to say to me about this passage?

Keith, the real sign of my authority was the demonised man who screamed at my presence. Satan knows me, as do his evil minions. They tremble at my presence.

When I save a person, their demon flee. As my Spirit invades their spirit, there is no room for evil spirits.

Satan trembles whenever the gospel is preached under my authority. He shrieks when a person surrenders their life to me. He knows his time of mischief making is coming to an end and he resists with all his might.

His might is nothing compared to my authority and the power of my kingdom.

Scripture

“The time promised by God has come at last!” he announced. “The Kingdom of God is near! Repent of your sins and believe the Good News!”

Observation

After the arrest of John, Jesus goes into Galilee and starts preaching the Good News. He tells them that the time has come at last and the Kingdom of God is here. People must turn away from their sins and believe the Good News.

One day Jesus is walking along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He sees Simon and Andrew fishing. Jesus calls them to follow Him. They leave at once and follow Jesus.

Further along, James and John the sons of Zebedee are repairing their nets. They also leave everything to follow Jesus.

Application

When God’s kairos time or anointed time comes, everything changes fast. People start to respond to God’s call, leaving everything behind to follow the Lord.

And this was God’s appointed time, predicted, hundreds of years before by the prophet Daniel. The Messiah had long been promised and was now here.

What should we do when God starts to move?

Firstly, we must abandon all thoughts of business as usual. God overturns our expectations in the blink of an eye.

Secondly, when He calls, go! Whatever the call is, don’t let family or business hold you back.

Third, turn away from your sins. God wants a holy people totally set apart for him.

Fourth, believes the Good News. The Good News is far deeper than “Say this prayer and go to heaven.” No, the Good News is that God will accept anyone who trusts Him and allows him to turn their life around.

Listening

Beloved, you humans have an ability to turn anything into dead religion. I placed my Holy Spirit in you to bring life into every situation Too many people, my people, live In unbelief, trusting in liturgy and church programs instead of me.

This is not to criticise church. No, I want you to continue to meet together and to build one another up. I love the way you praise me and honour me in your songs together.

Focus on me and listen to my Spirit, my beloved children, The Good News for you right now is that I am with you, I am in you, and I am among you.

Open your eyes to see the king!

Scripture

And a voice came from heaven saying, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

Observation

Jesus comes from Nazareth to the Jordan to be baptised by John. As Jesus comes up from the water. The heavens open up and the Holy Spirit comes and descends upon Him in the form of a dove. A voice comes from the heavens saying “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”

Jesus then goes off into the wilderness where Satan tempts him for forty days.

Application

The accounts of the baptism of Jesus in the different gospels is a perfect text for understanding the Trinity. Here we have the Father, speaking from heaven affirming that Jesus is the Son, and the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a dove.

What a wonderful affirmation this was for Jesus to hear his heavenly Father speaking so warmly these words of love and acceptance over him.

One of the great social and emotional ills that befall many people, both men and women, is they lack their father’s approval or affirmation, This leads to a condition known as the orphan heart in which a person is unable to easily express love for others or to trust that they are accepted. This wreaks havoc in homes and in the church.

We all need to hear the words spoken by God the Father to Jesus and to receive them as God’s affirmation to us. “You are my beloved son or daughter and you bring me great joy.”

Listening

To know that you are loved by an earthly father is so important, It colours the way the view that people have towards me. If they perceive that their father was absent From their home or that they were emotionally cold towards them, then they feel in their hearts that I am the same towards them.

This is a lie from the evil one.

The solution is, is the spirit of sonship. Knit your heart to me. Assume in faith that I am who I say I am. Test me and see. You will know that I am a good Father, a loving Father, an awesome. God.

Scripture

This is the Good News about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.

Observation

Mark’s Gospel is about the Good News about Jesus.

The message starts with John the Baptist, the prophet. He prepares the way for Jesus. John preached in the wilderness that people must repent, turn to God for forgiveness, and then be baptised.

John the Baptist was a wild figure. He wore clothes made from camel hair and ate locusts, and wild honey.

John told them that someone was coming, who was much greater than he is. John was not worthy to loosen the straps of his sandals. John baptised in water, but the Messiah would baptise in fire and the Holy Spirit.

Application

Mark’s gospel always reminds me of those videos that start “Let’s jump straight in.” He doesn’t want to waste time with stories about Jesus’s, birth, or even spend too much time in talking about John, important as he is.

This is good news, He tells us. The good news centres around the death and resurrection of Christ. Because of this, the kingdom of God is open to everyone. The war between God and people is over, and everyone who chooses the way of the Cross is able to make peace with God.

Jesus is the Messiah, He is the anointed one, the one whom Israel has been waiting for.

Jesus is the Son of God. This is a mystery that we struggle to understand, because our minds are limited. At Christmas time, we celebrate the Incarnation, God becoming a human being. God is with us. This may be beyond understanding, but it is Good News to be received by faith.

Listen

My child this mystery of salvation took place in history at a time and a place, but it was in my heart before the beginning of creation. When we planned to create a physical realm with people who are my image bearers, I knew that they would fall. But my grace and my love was such that I could not let that be the last word. I have written the Good News into the heart of every created thing from the tiniest atom, to the most distant Galaxy. Every person carries my image, but every subatomic particle expresses hints of my love.