Scripture

He sat down, called the twelve disciples over to him and said, “Whoever wants to be the first must take last place and be the servant of everyone else.”

Observation

Jesus and the disciples travel through Galilee, keeping a low profile so that Jesus can spend time with the disciples. Jesus tells him that he will be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. He will be killed, but three days later will rise from the dead.

When they arrive at Capernaum Jesus asks them what they’d been discussing on the road. He knew they’d been arguing about who was the greatest. Jesus tells them that those who seek to be first must be the servant of everyone else.

Jesus goes on to say that if anyone welcomes a little child, they welcome him and in welcoming him, they welcome the Father.

Application

It is human nature to put our own desires first. Many leaders in politics, churches, organisations etc, take on leadership roles to exercise power over others Often it is dressed up in other terms, such as being the best person for the job or the one qualified to run things.

Christians must always resist the temptation to push ourselves forward. Christ came to serve not to be served, so our attitude must always be that of a servant.

In the long run, every church needs the person who cleans the toilets ss much as they need the celebrity pastor How few people volunteer, for this first role.

As a pastor I’ve always believed my first aim is to serve. I try to do this with humility and honesty. This applies to every job, every position.

Live to serve those around you.

Listen

Lord, what would you say to me today about taking the last position?

Keith, people sometimes confuse this form of humility with self-negation, It is about seeking to serve the people around you, in any way that you can. It doesn’t mean trying to humiliate yourself.

There are people who see a situation and think, “Somebody should do something.” But others say, “How can I help?”

The way of Jesus is the way of serving.

Never try to say to raise yourself higher than I have placed you.

Wherever you are, whatever you are doing. let my love and my grace flow into the lives of the people around you.

Scripture

“What do you mean ‘if I can?’” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

Observation

Jesus and the three disciples come down from the Mount of Transfiguration to find a commotion happening between the remaining disciples and some teachers of the Law.

One of the men in the crowd comes to Jesus and explains that his son has a demon that prevents him from talking, and it tries to kill him by throwing him into the fire or water. The father had asked the disciples to cast the demon out but they could not.

Jesus has the boy brought to Him. The evil spirit throws the boy into a convulsion.

The father asks Jesus, “Help us if you can.” Jesus replies that all things are possible for anyone who believes.

Then Jesus addresses the spirit and tells it to come out. The spirit then throws the boy to the ground and leaves him.

Later, when the disciples are alone with Jesus, they ask him why they couldn’t remove the demon. Jesus Tells them that this kind can only be cast out with prayer.

Application

Jesus tells the father, “Anything is possible for the person who believes.”

They are various New Age and New Thought teachers who say that if you believe, the universe will change shape, so that whatever you want, will just come to you by the power of your thought.

This is not what Jesus is teaching!

Although he doesn’t explicitly say the words here, this is about trusting in Him and trusting in the Father. Faith must have an object or it is not faith. Who do you believe? Who do you trust?

Removing a demon that inflicted muteness was one thing, that many teachers In Jesus’ time believed that only the Messiah could do. As followers of Jesus the Christ, that is the Messiah, we have the authority to cast out all demons with a word, or sometimes a prayer.

Listen

Lord, why do some demons require prayer to remove them?

Keith, the truth is that you can only remove demons through my authority, and that means, listening carefully to my Spirit, and then doing and saying what I tell you. There is a trap that you can move from trusting my authority to believing in your own authority.

These spirits that have tormented a person with physical manifestations are harder to remove, especially when they have been in the person for many years. These are the spirits that need prayer – prayer for discernment, power and authority. Often, there is more than one spirit tormenting these people. Listen carefully Do not rush. Pray to expose all of the spirits.

Scripture

Jesus went on to say, “I tell you the truth, some standing here right now will not die before they see the Kingdom of God arrive in great power.”

Observation

Jesus tells the crowd that they will see God’s kingdom arrive in great power.

The following week Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up to a high mountain. Jesus’ appearance is changed and his clothes become dazzling white. Moses, and Elijah appear and talk to Jesus.

Peter talks about building shelters to memorialise the event. Suddenly a cloud overshadows them and a voice says, “This is my dearly loved Son; listen to him.”

Then, just as suddenly, everything goes back to normal. They descend the mountain. Jesus tells them not to tell anyone about what has happened.

Application

When Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God coming in power, he was not talking about the end of the world or the Second Coming. This is about an event close in time, so that some of the people standing there would see it.

The two most common suggestions for the event are the resurrection of Jesus and the destruction of the temple in 70 A.D.

When Jesus rose from the dead, he demonstrated God’s victory over death, The pouring out of the Holy Spirit, a few weeks later, transformed the disciples so radically that, within decades, Christians were a powerful voice in the Roman Empire.

When Jerusalem, particularly the Temple, was destroyed in 70 A.D. it marked, the end of the Old Covenant. The sacrificial system and the law were finished, and the death of Jesus superseded the endless sacrifices.

We are blessed to live in this time when the kingdom of God is advancing forcefully across the Earth.

Scripture

then, calling the crowd to join his disciples, he said “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn fro your selfish ways, take up your cross and follow me. If you try to hang onto your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, and for the sake of the good news, you will save it.”

Observation

At Bethsaida, the people beg Jesus to heal a blind, man. Jesus takes the man, leads him out of the village, and then spits on the man’s eyes to heal him. At first, the healing is incomplete, but then Jesus lays hands on him a second time and he can see normally

Jesus takes his disciples to a different region along the way he asks them, “Who do people say I am?” This leads to Peter’s confession, that Jesus is the Christ.

Jesus calls to the crowd and the disciples and says that anyone who wants to follow him, must turn from his wicked ways, take up his cross and follow him. To hang on to our life, we must give it up for the sake of Jesus and the good news. If we are ashamed of Christ, he will be ashamed of us on the day he returns.

Application.

I often feel that the church of the 21st century has softened the gospel and watered down the requirements of discipleship. Here Jesus gives us three steps for being a disciple.

1. We must turn from our selfish ways. Being a disciple means that we give up our old self-centred lifestyle and genuinely repent of our sins. This is not a matter of words, but of changed actions.

2. We must take up our cross. The man carrying a cross was a marked man. He was marked for execution and was already as good as dead. As Christians, we learn to put God’s way ahead of our own desires and ambitions and understand that God’s ways are better than our ways.

3. We must follow Jesus. He has a unique path for every person. For one person the path may lead to overseas missions For another it might lead to volunteering in an aged person’s home. We seek his path, not our own path.

We don’t die to ourselves for its own sake, but for his sake.

Listen

Lord, it seems odd to me that you were unable to completely heal the blind man immediately, What was this about?

Keith, you must remember that in my body of flesh, I was both human and divine. On this occasion, I missed a complicating factor. This man was blind bu both a physical cause, and by an evil spirit, When I first laid laid hands on him, the evil spirit left. But cataracts remained which meant that he could still only see partially

This actually happens quite often. Some illnesses, as you know, have multiple causes, and a quick prayer for healing is not enough. This is why Mark Virkler talks about healing as spiritual warfare.

Sometimes it is straightforward, but other times, there may be two or more steps required.

Scripture

“Don’t you understand yet?” he asked them.

Observation

The local Pharisees meet Jesus and demand that he performs a miraculous sign for them. Jesus sighs deeply and tells them they will not be given any sign from him.

They get into the boat again. On the journey across the lake, the disciples discover they only have one life of bread between them. Jesus warns them to be aware of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod. They think Jesus is talking about the bread situation, but he reminds them of the feeding of the four thousand and the five thousand.

“Don’t you understand yet?” Jesus asks,

Application

The disciples had experienced these miracles, but did not understand the lesson they taught. There was no need to worry about food when Jesus was around.

People can still worry unnecessarily, even mature, people who have known God’s provision in many situations.

The issue is not that we know God can provide. The issue is, will he meet my needs right now in this situation? We know he can multiply food to feed a multitude, but we fear that he may not multiply this two dollars to provide food and rent for my family.

Jesus, demonstrated and taught that if we seek God’s kingdom first, then he will supply everything that we need.

Can I trust him in that promise?

Listen

Lord, what do you want to say to me today?

Keith, it is all about trust or faith. You are saved through trusting that my death on the cross is enough to set you free. Similarly, faith is needed to activate my promises of provision.

I will supply all you need as you trust me. It won’t always come in the way you expect. I used ravens to bring food for Elijah, Don’t reject my provisions, even when they come to you in strange and unexpected ways,

It is all about trust always. So trust me and all will be well.

Scripture

The disciples replied, “How are we supposed to find enough food to feed them out here in the wilderness?”

Observation

Another large crowd gathers around Jesus, and for three days, they listen to his teaching. Jesus becomes concerned for them. If he sends them home, they will faint on the way.

The disciples ask, Jesus how are they supposed to find enough food to feed them out in the wilderness?

Jesus asks them how much bread they have. “Seven loaves,” they reply.

Jesus has the people sit down. He blesses the bread along with a few fish that they find. Everyone has enough to eat and there are seven large baskets of food left over.

There were four thousand people fed, Jesus sends them home after they have all eaten.

Application

While this story has some similarities with the feeding of the five thousand, there are a few differences to be noted.

In the previous event, they were close enough to farms and villages that the people could have dispersed and obtained food. Here they are in the wilderness.

Just as the Lord supplied food for the people of Israel in the wilderness following the exodus from Egypt, He now provides food for this group.

The previous event had been in Jewish land, but this event seems to have been located in Gentile country, suggesting that the crowd may have been mostly Gentiles.

It doesn’t matter who you are or where you live, God cares for your needs. He will provide everything necessary to sustain you as long as you are seeking His Kingdom.

Listen

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

Keith, you have experienced in your own life how I provide miraculously. When God’s people focus on me there is never anybody left in need, This was a powerful witness in the early church. Pepole’s hearts were so full of love for me and for each other that those who had plenty shared with those who had little.

I reward every act of generosity, with more opportunities to give even more. It becomes a cycle of virtue in which every need is met.

This must be done by grace. When it is commanded or required it becomes legalism, like socialism. The hearts must first be changed, so that sharing comes naturally, and so that those who receive help see it as a gift from me and not as an entitlement. Every man-made scheme will always fall apart Because of unsanctified human nature.

Scripture

They were completely amazed and said again and again, “Everything he does is wonderful. He even makes the deaf to hear and gives speech to those who who cannot speak.”

Observation

Jesus travels around the Gentile areas including Decapolis, the Ten Towns. A deaf mean with speech problems is brought to him, and the people beg Jesus to heal him.

Jesus takes the man away from the crowd. He’s puts his fingers in the man’s ears and puts spit on his tongue. He looks up to heaven and says, “Ephphatha”, which means “Be opened.”

Jesus tells the crowd not to tell anyone, but they spread the news. The man is instantly healed.

Jesus tells the crowd not to tell anyone, but they spread the news. They are amazed by what Jesus does.

Application

As much as Jesus was happy to heal people, His main concern was to preach the kingdom.

Some of the people were more interested in the wonders of the miracles than in the person of Jesus, or the message of salvation, They worshipped the sign rather than the person the miracles pointed to

We see that in the contemporary church at times. Crowds are attracted to the prophets and healing ministers. They want a “word” or a “miracle,” but they are less concerned with living for Jesus.

Some people, feeling under pressure from other people’s expectations, fake the prophecies and miracles. Then there is a crisis of trust in the church.

That could be avoided If we remembered that it is all about Jesus.

Scripture

She begged him to cast out the demon from her daughter.

Observation

Jesus leaves Galilee and goes to the region of Tyre. Although he tries to keep his location secret, word gets out. Right away a gentile woman comes and falls at his feet. She asks Jesus to cast a demon fomr her daughter.

Jesus teases her by saying Jesus teases her by saying, His first mission is to the Jews.

The woman replies that even the dogs eat the crumbs from the children’s plate.

Jesus commends her faith and tells her the the demon has left her daughter.

Application

Jesus’ authority is over all things and is available to all people.

No doubt this woman thought there was a process to go through. Often exorcisms were lengthy procedures and sometimes involved inflicting great pain on the victim. The idea was, that, by making the body uncomfortable, the evil spirit would be forced to leave.

Here, Jesus doesn’t even speak a command. His promise to the woman carries all the authority, of the Creator of all things including evil spirits, and it is sufficient to cause the demon to leave.

I have found from the times of spiritual warfare that I have engaged in, that a simple command, “Go in the name of Jesus” is enough.

The Holy Spirit in us is the presence of God, the authority of God.

Listen

Lord, is there more you need to say to me about this episode?

Keith, this lovely lady and precious daughter were involved in the making of purple dye, which that region was famous for.

They used dogs to find the snails that were the source of the dye, and these dogs were honoured in that town because they were a source of wealth. I talked to her about dogs, knowing that this was not insulting like it would have been in Israel.

The evil spirit had got in because of a gate way opened by idol worship. After that day, they never worshipped a false god again.

Scripture

“It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.”

Observation

Jesus calls the crowd to join the discussion. He tells them that it is not what you eat that defiles you, but what comes from the heart.

Jesus then goes into a house to escape the crowd. The disciples ask him what he meant by this. He explains that food cannot truly defile a person, that is, make them impure, because it just passes through the body. In saying this, Mark adds, he declared that every kind of food is acceptable to God.

It is not what comes from the outside, but what comes from the heart that makes a person unclean.

It is from a person’s heart that come evil thoughts, immorality, theft, murder, and so on.

Application

Jesus wants us to understand that we are not made unclean or unholy by external things like food. It is the heart that is the source of bad things.

Jeremiah tells us that the heart is deceitful above all things.

How contrary this is to the modern day exhortation to follow your heart. If the heart is the source of the sins that hurt us and other people, then following your heart is the last thing you should do.

No, the source of good advice, good behaviour, and good outcomes is to follow the Word, that is the Bible, the written word, and Jesus, the Living Word.

It must be stressed that it is not about legalism or following the letter of the law. No, it is allowing the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts as we read God’s word, and walk in fellowship with him.

That living relationship with God will clean up our hearts so that they become transformed from the source of all evil to a fountain of life.

Listen

Lord, I am reminded right now of the psalm that says “Test my heart and see if there is any wicked thing in me.”

Keith, this process of testing is continuous. Every day, my Spirit warns you of good and evil, taming your thoughts before they run away with you.

The power of sanctification will take your entire earthly life. I will prepare all of my people for heaven, and there will be no unclean thoughts or inclination in any of them.

How can I do this? For people, this is impossible, as unrighteousness begets unrighteousness. But I am a God who makes all things new — not new and improved, but new and perfect.