Gems from the Gospels: Mark 9 – Luke 4

Gems from the Gospels

Mark 9 – Luke 4

Mark 9 & 10 – Jesus took Peter, James, and John up on a mountain where His appearance changed before their eyes. The glory of God shone through Him and His clothes were white as lightening. He spoke with Elijah and Moses, and Peter wanted to BE A SERVANT by building three shelters for them to stay awhile, but he was not on the same wavelength as the Lord. At that moment, a bright cloud enveloped them, and God said, “This is my Son, whom I love, Listen to Him!” Only Jesus was there when they had their wits about them again, and He told them to tell no one until He rose from the dead. Jesus was going to SERVE us by dying in our place. Jesus explained that John the Baptist had come in the spirit of Elijah as foretold by the prophets. A man had brought his demon possessed son to the disciples, but they could not help him. Jesus SERVED the man and his son by freeing the boy of the demon. The disciples quarreled about which of them was the most important. Jesus explained that in His Kingdom, the first would be last and the last first. He told them that to be a leader meant to BE A SERVANT of all. He taught that following Him required child-like faith. Children trust freely and completely, jumping into their daddies’ arms with no reservations. Jesus told the rich young man to not only follow the commandments but to sell all his possessions, give to the poor, and follow Him. The man went away sad. We are to SERVE Him by serving the poor. When Peter pointed out the disciples had left everything, Jesus assured them of eternal rewards as well as peace in this life. Jesus continued to tell the disciples about His upcoming death, burial, and resurrection, but it seemed to go “whoosh” over their heads. James and John wanted to sit at Jesus’s right and left in His Kingdom, but that was only the Father’s to grant. He told all the disciples that he who wants to be first must be the SERVANT of all because He, Himself, came not to be served, but to serve. This passage ended with Jesus SERVING Bartimaeus by healing his blindness completely. Jesus constantly served others. BE A SERVANT!

Mark 11 & 12 – Jesus sent two disciples to borrow a donkey colt for Him to ride into Jerusalem. The owners willingly OFFERED it as soon as they were told Jesus needed it. The disciples GAVE their coats to use as a blanket on its back, and the people OFFERED clothing and branches to smooth out the path for Jesus to ride on. The crowds OFFERED shouts of praise and recognition that Jesus was the Messiah. Jesus cursed a barren fig tree, and by the next day it shriveled up completely! He told His disciples they, too, would receive what they asked when they prayed without doubting. Jesus cleared the merchants and money changers out of the temple, reminding everyone that the temple was supposed to be a house of prayer, a place for people to OFFER prayer, praise, and sacrifice to God. The chief priests and scribes asked Jesus who gave Him the authority to teach in this way. He said He would answer them if they would answer the question of where John the Baptist received authority to baptize. They could not answer, so He did not answer them. Jesus told a parable of a man whose tenants would not give him the share of grapes agreed upon from his vineyard. They killed some of his servants and eventual killed his own son. The Pharisees recognized themselves as the tenants, the prophets as the servants, and maybe even Jesus as the Son, and were greatly offended. They kept trying to trick Him. They asked about paying taxes. Jesus answered the famous, “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and unto God what is God’s.” Sadducees asked him a question concerning levirate marriage and whose wife a woman would be in heaven if she married seven brothers but never had a child. Jesus explained that there is no marriage in Heaven. When asked what was the greatest commandment, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:4-5 that it is to love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and said that the second greatest was to love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18). This passage ended with Jesus watching the people bringing their offerings. Many people gave large amounts, but He praised a widow who gave a tiny amount that represented all she had. Jesus set aside the glory He deserved in Heaven, to be born as a baby on earth. He gave His all by dying on the cross for us. It should be a pleasure to GIVE YOUR OFFERING!

Mark 13 & 14 - Jesus prophesied that the temple would be completely destroyed, and the disciples asked Him what sign would there be that this was about to happen. Jesus warned them not to be fooled by false Messiahs. He said that wars, earthquakes, and famines were only the beginning of birth pains of the millennial reign. Jesus prepared them for the fact that they would be persecuted and on trial before sanhedrins, governors, and kings. He told them not to worry about what to say when this happened because the Holy Spirit would give them the words they needed. Everyone would hate followers of Jesus but they would be enabled to STAND TOUGH, to persevere. He told them of the great tribulation. There would be false messiahs and prophets performing signs and wonders, trying to lead people astray. The sun and moon would no longer provide light, the stars would fall, and the heavens be shaken (Isaiah 13:10, 34:4). There will be no mistaking the second coming of the Messiah because He will come on the clouds in great power and glory to gather the chosen. He told the disciples to stay alert because no one knows the day or hour of His coming. He was dining in the home of Simon, a man who had been cured of leprosy, when a woman came in and anointed Jesus by pouring pure oil of nard on His head. Some were giving her a rough time, saying she could have sold it for a year’s wages and given to the poor. But Jesus praised her for anointing Him for burial ahead of time, and declared that her act of kindness would be remembered everywhere the Gospel was preached. Judas Iscariot went to chief priests and volunteered to betray Jesus for money. Jesus sent two disciples to prepare the Seder, the Passover meal. That evening Jesus and the twelve were reclining at the table when He announced that one of the would betray Him and that it would be the one dipping bread in the dish with Him. That was Judas, but no one seemed to catch on to that fact. Jesus instituted what we call communion or Lord’s Supper when He said the unleavened bread, the matzah, represented His body, and wine represented His blood of the New Covenant, shed on behalf of many people. Then they sang a hymn and went to the mount of Olives, a place they went to pray. Jesus warned that they would soon scatter and deny him. Peter said he would never lose faith, but Jesus told him that he would deny Him 3 times before the rooster crowed twice. They went to Gethsemane. Jesus took Peter, James, and John a little farther into the garden. Telling them He was so sad He could die, Jesus instructed them to watch and stay awake. Three times Jesus fell to the ground and prayed, “Lord, take this cup from Me. Not my will, but your will be done.” In between times he found the three disciples sleeping. Jesus told them, “The Spirit is eager, but human nature is weak” (CJB).  Judas brought a crowd carrying swords and clubs. He betrayed Jesus by greeting Him with a kiss on the cheek. As Jesus was arrested, the disciples scattered as he had foretold. Peter followed at a distance and finally sat down by the fire outside the Chief Priest’s house. The Sanhedrin couldn’t find real evidence to put Jesus to death. They called on people to give false testimony but their stories didn’t jive. Finally, Caiaphas asked Jesus point blank if he was the “Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus replied, “I AM,” using the name God gave when Moses asked whom he should say had sent him. The High Priest tore his clothes and cried, “Blasphemy!” The Sanhedrin declared Jesus guilty and subject to the death penalty. They proceeded to beat and mock him. Meanwhile, back in the courtyard by the fire. People accused Peter three times of being one of Jesus’s disciples. Three times he denied it even pronouncing a curse on himself the third time. At the moment, the rooster crowed, and Peter threw himself down and sobbed. Peter immediately felt shame when He did not stand for Jesus. We have something Peter did not have yet at that time, the indwelling Holy Spirit. Internalize and apply Ephesians 6:10-18 and STAND TOUGH!

Mark 15 & 16 – The Chief Priests, scribes, and elders handed Jesus over to Pilate in chains because under Roman rule, they did not have the authority to execute a prisoner themselves. Otherwise, Jesus would have probably been stoned to death rather than dying on the cross as prophesied. Jesus was silent and did not respond to their charges. Pilate had a custom of releasing one prisoner during the Passover festivities. He gave them a choice between a murderer and insurrection leader named Barabbas and Jesus Christ. The priests urged the crowd to demand Barabbas. Pilate asked, “What should I do with Jesus?” The crowd shouted, “Crucify him!” He had Jesus flogged and sent Him to be crucified. Pilate CONSIDERED the fact that Jesus was innocent yet took the easy way out and appeased the Jews. The Roman soldiers dressed Jesus in a purple robe and smashed a crown made of thorns on His head. They spat on Him, hit Him, and knelt in mock worship. Then they led Him to be crucified. They forced Simon of Cyrene to carry the cross beam to Golgotha (place of the skull). They offered Jesus wine spiced with myrrh to dull the pain which He refused. Then they nailed Him to the cross at about 9:00 a.m. The soldiers gambled for His clothing as people were crucified naked. Two robbers were crucified beside Jesus. Passers by and even the head priests and scribes mocked and taunted Him. From noon until 3:00 p.m. there was darkness. At 3:00 p.m., Jesus cried out “My God! My God! Why have You deserted me?” (Psalm 22:1-2). Soon after that Jesus cried out and gave up His spirit. At that moment the veil in the temple was torn apart from top to bottom. One of the Roman officers declared, “This man really was a son of God!” This man CONSIDERED the facts before his eyes, but we do not know if he chose to believe because of it. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James, and other women followers were there. Joseph of Arimathea, a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin begged Pilate for Jesus’s body.  He wrapped Jesus in linen and laid Him in his own new tomb. Mary Magdalene and the other women saw where he laid Him. At dawn on Sunday, Mary Magdalene and Mary mother of James took spices to anoint Jesus’s body. When they arrived, the massive stone had already been rolled away. An angel explained that Jesus had risen and was not there. He instructed them to tell the disciples, especially Peter, that Jesus would be waiting for them in Galilee. On their way to do so, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. When she told the disciples that Jesus was alive, they wouldn’t believe it. They did not CONSIDER the times Jesus had told them He would rise from the dead. Jesus appeared to two other followers as they were walking in the country. They also told the disciples but were not believed because the disciples were still not CONSIDERING and remembering that Jesus had foretold His death, burial AND resurrection. When Jesus appeared to the Eleven, He reproached them for not believing Mary Magdalene and the other two followers. He instructed them to proclaim the Good News throughout the world. The Eleven continued preaching and were enabled to perform miracles. CONSIDER HIM and base your actions on all He has done for you.

Luke 1 – The angel Gabriel appears to a priest named Zechariah, a righteous man whose wife Elizabeth was barren, as he burned incense in the temple. He told Zechariah that his wife, now beyond the age of childbearing, would bear a son, he was to name him John, and he would be great in God’s sight, filled with the Holy Spirit even in his mother’s womb. Zechariah as SURPRISED and questioned the veracity of the angel’s prophecy. Gabriel told him because he did not believe him, Zechariah would be unable to speak until it was fulfilled. Soon after Zechariah went home, Elizabeth was pregnant. We are not told whether or not Elizabeth was surprised, but she immediately gave praise to God for lifting her disgrace of barrenness. Meanwhile, Gabriel moved on to Nazareth and told Mary, a virgin espoused to Joseph, that she would have a son and name Him Jesus. Mary asked how this would happen since she was a virgin. Gabriel told her the Holy Spirit would come upon her, and her baby would be called the Son of God. He told about Elizabeth’s late life pregnancy as well. Mary was SURPRISED by the angel’s prophecy but responded in humility and submissive faith, “I am the servant of the Lord, may it be done according to your word.” Mary traveled to Zechariah’s house to visit her relative, Elizabeth. As Mary greeted her, Elizabeth’s baby jumped for joy in her womb. Elizabeth demonstrated her faith by blessing Mary and addressing her as “the mother of my Lord.” The Holy Spirit had revealed to Elizabeth that Mary was pregnant with the Messiah, and Elizabeth believed. Mary burst forth with what is known as the Magnificat. She spoke of the elevation of the humble, care for the poor, and fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham, quoting 1 Samuel 1:11, 2:1, Psalm 103:17, and Psalm 111;19. Mary went home after three months. When Elizabeth and Zechariah held the circumcision and naming ceremony for their 8- day-old baby, she told everyone his name was John. Their friends protested that there was no one in their family named John. The people were SURPRISED by this choice of name and asked Zechariah to confirm his wife’s choice. Zechariah wrote “His name is John.” Immediately, his ability to speak returned and he uttered a praise song and prophecy. He spoke of the Messiah in terms of already being on the scene (he, too, knew that Mary’s baby was the One), and he prophesied concerning his own son, John, preparing the way for the Messiah. John grew strong in body and spirit and lived in the desert until his ministry began. DON’T BE SURPRISED when the Lord moved in mysterious ways in your own life. Respond in faith and obedience.

Luke 2 – Because Caesar Augustus decreed a census to be taken, Mary and Joseph had to make an arduous journey to his family home in Bethlehem even those Mary was close to her delivery day. There was no room in the inn, so Jesus was born in a stable, wrapped in strips of cloth, and laid in a feeding troth with fresh hay as His bed. Susan noted that his was the perfect birthplace for the Passover Lamb, and we saw a video online explaining that the shepherds did take the ewes into nearby caves to give birth. Speaking of shepherds . . . there were shepherds nearby staying with their sheep out on the fields. Suddenly the shekinah glory of the Lord shone around them and they were filled with terror. An angel told them not to be afraid because he came to give them good news. The Savior was born in the city of David (Bethlehem) and they would recognize Him by the fact that he was lying in a manger wrapped in strips of cloth. Then there was a huge army of angels praising God. God had granted simple shepherds His FAVOR in making them among the first to hear the Good News. After the angels went back into Heaven, the shepherds WISELY rushed off to Bethlehem to see this newborn Messiah. They found Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus just as the angel had described them. They went about spreading the Good News to the amazement of their listeners and glorified God as they went back to their sheep. Mary mulled all these events over in her heart. She may have been remembering the greeting from Gabriel, “Hail, thou that are highly FAVORED . . .” When Jesus was eight days old, He was circumcised and officially named according to what the angel had instructed Mary and Joseph. Mary and Joseph took the baby with them to the temple to offer the sacrifices for Mary’s purification and to redeem Jesus as the firstborn son. There was an elderly man named Simeon to whom God had promised he would see the Messiah before he died. Prompted by the Holy Spirit, Simeon WISELY obeyed and went into the temple courts and saw Jesus and His parents. He took the baby in his arms and praised God for giving him the peace to die, recognizing that he was FAVORED to see the “consolation of Israel.” He spoke prophecy over Jesus and warned Mary that a sword would pierce her own heart. Then entered Anna, a prophetess also well on in years. She praised God when she recognized Jesus as the long-awaited Messiah and went about spreading the Good News. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus returned to Nazareth, When Jesus was twelve, His parents took Him to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover. On the caravan home, they realized Jesus was not with them. After searching for Him, they returned to Jerusalem to find Him sitting among the teachers in the Temple, listening and asking questions. Mary told Him they had been worried, to which He replied that they should have known he would be concerning Himself with His Father’s affairs. Mary and Joseph did not understand. Jesus went home with them and was obedient to His parents. Mary continued to store up all these things in her heart. Jesus grew in WISDOM and stature, gaining FAVOR with other people and with God. In James 1:5, we are told to ask God for WISDOM. We are to seek God, to desire His WISDOM AND FAVOR.

Luke 3 & 4 – Luke sets the timeframe by telling that it was the 15^th year of Emperor Tiberius’ reign, Pontius Pilate was governor, and Herod the Tetrarch was ruler of Galilee. He set the religious tone of the time by pointing out that Annas and Caiaphas were the High Priests. This was God’s appointed time for John the Baptist to begin his ministry. He baptized people as a sign that they were turning away from sin and to God. GOD WAS WORKING through John the Baptist to prepare way for the Lord as prophesied in Isaiah 40:3-5. He called the religious leaders vipers. He told the crowds to produce fruit that proved they had turned from their sin and warned that every tree that does not produce fruit would be thrown into the fire. The people asked, “What shall we do?” GOD WAS WORKING in the people, giving them the desire to turn to Him. John told them to share with those in need. He told tax collectors to collect only what the government assessed and soldiers to cease intimidation and false accusations and be content with their pay. They were asking if John could be the Messiah, but he set them straight by say there was One greater than him to come who would baptize them with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Fire purifies, and only God can bring purification. Jesus was baptized by John as an example to others. As Jesus came up from the water and prayed, the Holy Spirit came upon Him in the form of a dove and God spoke from Heaven saying, “You are my Son, whom I love, I am well pleased with you.” Jesus was thirty years old when He began His ministry. Next Luke listed the Genealogy of Jesus proving Him to be a descendant of David and tracing it all the way back to Adam, the first man. God, in His mercy, sent the God-Man, Jesus, to atone for the sin that began with the first man, Adam. GOD WAS WORKING throughout history until “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4) He sent Jesus to earth. The Holy Spirit let Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. He fasted for 40 days and nights. Each time Satan tempted Him, Jesus answered with scripture from Deuteronomy. GOD WAS AND IS WORKING through His word to help His children combat temptation. The temptations and Jesus’s replies:

1.        Turn stone to bread – “Man does not live by bread alone.” (Deut. 8:3)

2.        Worship Satan to gain power and riches of the entire world – “Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.” (Deut. 6:13-14)

3.        Cast yourself down and let the angels catch you – “Do not put the Lord your God to the Test.” (Deut. 6:16)

Jesus went back to Galilee and was a respected teacher in their synagogues. He spoke in Nazareth where He grew up and read Isaiah 61:1-2 and Isaiah 58:6 as the reading from the Prophets one Sabbath in the synagogue. This was an honor for a special guest. Jesus sat down to teach and announced that this prophecy had been fulfilled while they were listening. The congregation wondered at the fact that this was Joseph the carpenter’s son. Jesus told them they would say, “Doctor cure yourself” and demand that He do miracles. He said that no prophet is accepted in his home town. He recounted two instances where the prophets Elijah and Elisha were sent to Gentiles rather than the Jews. The people did not like the implication that He would minister to Gentiles instead of them and tried to throw Jesus off a cliff. However, He miraculously walked right through them unscathed. GOD WAS WORKING to protect Jesus until the time He had ordained for Him to die. Jesus went on to teach with authority in Capernaum. He cast a demon out of a man in the synagogue and the people were amazed that He could command demons, and they obeyed Him. When Jesus returned from the synagogue, He found Peter’s mother-in-love sick with a high fever. He stood over her and commanded the fever to leave her. She was instantly completely well, and able to serve Him as her guest. After sunset, the end of the Sabbath, people brought many sick and demon possessed people to be healed by Jesus. GOD WAS WORKING by demonstrating His authority that people might have trust in Jesus.  He always hushed the demons to prevent them from revealing His full identity. Jesus went out to a lonely place to spend time alone with the Father, but the crowd found Him and begged Him to stay in Capernaum. Jesus told them he must announce the Good News of the Kingdom in other towns. GOD IS STILL WORKING today. Be alert and watch for the ways GOD IS WORKING in and through you. Surrender yourself to be an instrument in His hands.