Mark 6:4-6

FOR FRIDAY, April 12

Passage

Jesus tells the people of the synagogue that a prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, or in his family gatherings, or even in his own household.  Jesus could do no great acts of power here except to lay hands on a few sick people and heal them.  He marveled over their unbelief and went elsewhere to preach.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Familiarity breeds contempt.  This is a horrible saying, but it is true.  Familiarity destroys the pedestals upon which we put people as we see them for who they truly are.  Familiarity often makes it hard to see what God is doing in someone because we can focus too much on the nitty-gritty.  The people of Nazareth expected a carpenter.  They saw how His brothers and sisters lived and acted.  They expected the same out of Jesus.  When they didn’t get it, it was far too easy to reject Jesus as being the “odd” one.

Of whom in your life do you let experience cloud your judgment?  Through whom in your life would it be difficult to see God work – even if others tell you that God is present?

Second Thought:

Jesus could do no great acts of power except to cure some sick people.  This isn’t saying that Jesus was powerless.  Rather, it is emphasizing the importance of the role of the audience.  If a sick person refuses to take their medication, they can’t be healed.  If an audience refuses to listen, they can’t be taught.  If people refuse to bury the hatchet, there can be no peace-making.  It doesn’t mean that Jesus was incapable; it means that the people were simply not open to receiving what Jesus had to offer.

Are you open to receiving what God is trying to teach you?  What helps you become open?  What helps you stay open to God?  What prevents you from being open to God?

Third Thought:

Jesus marvels at their unbelief – and then He leaves!  That is the most tragic part of the whole story for me.  Jesus leaves.  He goes elsewhere.  The people of Nazareth miss the boat.  That doesn’t mean that they are written out of God’s will, but it does mean that if they want to find salvation they are going to have to pursue it rather than have it come graciously to them!  But here’s the brutally honest point.  If we are not open to what God is doing when God wants to do it, God will move on.  God will always go to where the ground is fertile.

If this is true, why is it important to understand the necessity to prepare now?  Why is it important to have a good spiritual relationship with the Father now?  Why is it important to be a disciple of Jesus while you have the opportunity now?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 6:7-9

Mark 6:1-3

FOR THURSDAY, April 11

Passage

Jesus and His disciples then go back to His hometown: Nazareth.  On the Sabbath, He went into the synagogue and taught.  Those who heard Him were astonished, wondering where He had gotten His understanding and authority to teach.  They wondered how He had gotten so much wisdom and power to do mighty deeds.  They asked if this was not the same person who they had know as coming from Mary and the brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon as well as all of His sisters.  They took offense at Him.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Once more Jesus goes into a synagogue to preach.  This is our first clue that trouble is on the horizon.  Things never go well when Jesus comes in contact with the religious authorities on their terms.  However, Jesus doesn’t give up.  Jesus doesn’t stop going to them.  In spite of the trouble and the difficulties, Jesus continues to go into the synagogue and give them a chance.

When you are faced with opposition, do you continue to give them a chance?  Why is it easy to write off those who oppose you?  When is it okay to do so?  When is it not okay to do so?

Second Thought:

They were astonished at Jesus.  They marveled at His wisdom.  This must certainly demonstrate a low opinion of Jesus’ parents, Mary and Joseph, for clearly they thought Jesus to be incapable of being raised to have such wise thought.  They were also amazed at His power.  This is an interesting point, because Jesus hasn’t actually done anything amazing in Nazareth – and won’t.  So their amazement must be through stories they’ve heard about Jesus.  This fundamentally points us to a tendency to gossip and listen to gossip.  The people of Nazareth were just ordinary folks: willing to judge others, make assumptions about their past, and gossip about the latest trending things.

Have you ever acted like the people of Nazareth in this story?  Why is it easy to judge others, especially if we make assumptions about their past?  Why is it easy to engage in gossip?  Where do these kinds of behaviors usually lead?

Third Thought:

They took offense at Jesus.  Jesus was living outside the “box” that they had created for Him.  They knew His family.  They thought He should behave a certain way.  Because they thought that they really knew Him, they were closed-minded to what Jesus actually brought to the table.  They couldn’t trust Him.  Their humanity prevented them from being able to see God at work in Jesus.

Why does our humanity often get in the way?  Given this conversation, can experience ever seem to actually get in the way of spirituality?  Why must we always be careful to not let our humanity get in the way of what God is trying to do in us?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 6:4-6

Mark 5:41-43

FOR WEDNESDAY, April 10

Passage

Jesus reaches out and takes the little girl’s hand in his.  He says to her, “Girl, stand up.”  Immediately the girl stood up and was walking around.  Everyone was amazed.  The girl was twelve years old when this happened.  Jesus charged the people that they shouldn’t tell others about this.  He also asked that the girl be given something to eat.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The little girl was twelve years old.  Remember that the anonymous woman that Jesus had just finished healing from her hemorrhage had the bleeding for twelve years.  Literally, that woman had been bleeding for as long as this girl had been alive!  Yet here was a girl right on the cusp of adult life in those days.  Jesus healed her as quickly and as easily as Jesus stopped the twelve year flow of blood.  Jesus heals the young and the old.

How does this understanding speak to Jesus’ openness and willingness to accept anyone into His company?  How can this passage help us understand that anyone can come to Jesus if they are willing?

Second Thought:

Jesus charges the adults in the room to not tell anyone.  This would be no small task.  There were mourners who had seen the girl die – they would know the girl was no longer dead.  So why would Jesus give this command?  Jairus was a synagogue leader.  If Jairus went around proclaiming every great thing that Jesus did, there would definitely be conflict.  That conflict would come sooner than Jesus was prepared to die.  His disciples still had a good bit of training to undergo.  Things couldn’t happen too fast.  It isn’t that Jesus doesn’t want the story to get out; it is that Jesus is concerned that things be allowed to happen on Jesus’ timeframe.

Does it make sense for Jesus to give permission to Jairus and the others to not be vocal about what Jesus has done here?  What does it say to you that Jesus is willing to look after and protect others?

Third Thought:

Jesus asks for the girl to be brought some food.  The girl had been sick.  Then she had died.  Now she was raised from death.  It must have been quite a traumatic day for her!  {That’s an understatement of the year!}  Jesus shows compassion on her.  Once she is healed, she immediately gets up and moves around like she hasn’t been able to do the whole while she had been sick.  But Jesus also knows that she needs to eat something and keep up her strength.

How neat is it to see Jesus have compassion not just in healing her but in caring for her needs afterward?  What can this story teach us about caring for big and small needs in others?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 6:1-3

Mark 5:38-40

FOR TUESDAY, April 9

Passage

They came to Jairus’ house.  Jesus saw a great commotion of people weeping and wailing.  Jesus went into the house and asked the people why they were weeping.  After all, from His perspective the young girl was only sleeping, not dead.  They laughed at Jesus.  Jesus put the mourners outside and took Peter, James, John, Jairus, and Jairus’ wife in to see the girl. 

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jesus sees an incredible commotion within Jairus’ house.  In those days, it was common for people to pay public mourners.  After all, the more mourners at your funeral, the more society says that you are loved, right?  Isn’t that why today people talk about how many people come to a funeral?  Either way, Jesus sees a group of people who are weeping and wailing loudly – making a commotion.

Do you ever get the feeling that people make a “show” of their emotions?  Why do people feel the need to put on a certain face and live up to society’s expectations?

Second Thought:

Jesus confronts these so-called mourners.  He asks them why they are weeping.  They laugh at him.  If they were genuinely mourning, Jesus’ message could have either brought hope or extreme grief as the mourners could have perceived Jesus messing with them.  However, the fact that these mourners can find time to laugh at the incredible thing that Jesus suggests implies that they are not genuinely mourning.  They aren’t here because they care about the little girl.  They aren’t even here because they are interested in what God is doing.  They are here to fulfill a social obligation.  Jesus has little time for their external “show.”  He puts them outside.

How would you have reacted if Jesus came to you and told you that someone you know who is dead is really just sleeping?  In what way could this message bring you hope?  In what way might this message scare you?  Can you think of any legitimate reason that you would laugh at Jesus?

Third Thought:

After Jesus sets the false mourners outside, Jesus takes the remaining five people with Him.  These are the people who are prepared to receive what Jesus has come to do.  His disciples are prepared.  Jairus and his wife have displayed faith.  Those who are ready to receive Jesus when He comes among us will see the miraculous hand of God at work.

What has God done in your life that has been pretty miraculous?  What have you missed out on seeing God do because you weren’t prepared for Him when He came?  How can we try to always be prepared for what God is doing?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 5:41-43

Mark 5:35-37

FOR MONDAY, April 8

Passage

While Jesus was still speaking to the woman with the hemorrhage, some friends of Jairus’ came from his house.  They told him that his daughter was dead and there was no reason to bother Jesus any longer.  Jesus overheard them talking and told Jairus to not fear.  He also told Jairus that he should only believe.  Then Jesus went off to Jairus’ house.  The only people allowed to go with Jesus were Peter, James, and John.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jesus makes a great statement of belief in this passage.  Remember that He was just coming off of dealing with a timid woman who had all the faith in the world that the mere touch of Jesus would be enough.  Using her as an example, Jesus now turns to Jairus and tells him to have faith.  The impossible was just done through this woman, who is to say what else Jesus can or cannot do?

Why is it easy to doubt?  Why would Jairus have an especially easy time doubting once he got the report about his daughter?  How can we go about remembering to have faith?  Why should we be open to the faith examples in all people regardless of their status?

Second Thought:

Jairus’ friends try to convince Jairus to not bother Jesus.  For them, the story is over.  The girl is dead.  For Jairus’ friends, there is no reason to involve Jesus.  They do not yet believe – or probably even understand – that death is no obstacle for Jesus.  They aren’t going through life with eyes that see the power of God.  They are going through life with eyes that only see reality.

How often do you go through life seeing not what you think will happen but rather what could happen with God?  Do you ever find yourself talking people out of something that seems impossible – even for God?  Why do we have to be careful in such times?

Third Thought:

Jesus only took his three closest disciples.  This was a moment of intense training.  Not everyone was ready to be see what Jesus was about to do.  Not everyone could see it in the right frame of reference.  Not everyone could be trusted with what they were about to see.  Not everyone could be relied upon to do just as Jesus says.  These three, however, could.  Jesus takes them with him to deal with the most troublesome of life’s issues: death.

How do you think Peter, James, and John got themselves into this position with Jesus?  What about them might make them more reliable, more trainable, or more trustworthy?  Are you in close discipleship with someone who can count on you as Jesus can count on these three?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 5:38-40

Mark 5:30-34

FOR SUNDAY, April 7

Passage

Jesus senses that power has gone out from Him into the woman with the hemorrhage.  He immediately turns around and asks who touched Him.  The disciples take one look at the crowd and know the futility of trying to determining who touched Him.  The woman knew what had happened to her.  So she came to Him in fear and trembling.  She fell before Him and told Him the whole truth.  Jesus calls her daughter and tells her that her faith had made her well.  She was to go in peace and live free of the disease.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Jesus felt power go out from Him.  He knew something happened.  In fact, let’s face it.  He is God.  He also knew who did it.  But if we look at Jesus’ response, He lets the woman come to Him.  Instead of turning around and pulling her out of the crowd, Jesus lets the woman come to Him on the terms of her own faith.  Again we see that Jesus isn’t interested in dominating.  Jesus is interested in relationships.

What does it mean to you that Jesus lets this woman come to Him?

Second Thought:

The woman comes before Jesus with fear and trembling.  She had been taken advantage by physician after physician.  She had every reason to fear the cost that Jesus was going to demand from her.  She had already spent everything that she had.  But to her credit, she still comes before Jesus and tells the whole story.  She owns up to her action.

Why would it have been hard for this woman to come before Jesus?  Why is confession difficult?

Third Thought:

Jesus hears the woman and tells her to go in peace.  He commends her faith.  He takes a woman who is afraid and restores her faith.  She had been taken advantage of by physician after physician.  Yet Jesus gives her true healing essentially for free.  In this simple act of Jesus, we see the difference that the pure grace of God can make within this woman.

Why is God’s grace so different than the way that the world typically works?  Why can a simple demonstration of God’s grace make a huge impact in the lives of people?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 5:35-37

Mark 5:25-29

FOR SATURDAY: April 6

Passage

Within the crowd – while Jesus was headed to the home of Jairus – there was a woman with a serious problem. We don’t even get to know her name!  But she had a hemorrhage of one type or another.  The original language of the Bible suggests that the hemorrhage was related to a menstrual problem.  She had gone to – and suffered under – many physicians.  She only grew worse.  She had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind Jesus and merely touched his robe.  Immediately her hemorrhage stopped and she could feel that she had been healed.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

We don’t even know the name of this woman with the blood issue.  Don’t miss the fact that this story is inserted in between the beginning and the resolution of the story of Jairus.  In that story, Jesus is coming to the aid of a male synagogue leader – a very well known person in the community.  Here Jesus helps a female whose name is never remembered.  Jesus doesn’t care about social status or gender.  Jesus cares about faith and relationship.  Jesus cares whether or not we are willing to humble ourselves before God.

How does it make you feel to see the spectrum of social status in these interwoven stories?  Why is important to realize that Jesus goes to the known as well as the unknown?

Second Thought:

This woman had gone to many physicians.  We are told that she spent all the money she owned trying to find a solution and she couldn’t.  In fact, we are told that she has suffered under many physicians.  It is possible that this is a comment to the prescriptions offered by the physicians.  However, it is more than likely a comment to the fact that these physicians took advantage of her condition.  They took her money even though their treatment didn’t work.  They saw an opportunity to take advantage of a person in need.  So she suffered under them.

Why is it that people who have are willing to take advantage of people who are in need?  Where do you see this dynamic at work in the world?

Third Thought:

This woman touched Jesus.  She didn’t even feel like she had to bother Him.  She didn’t need to hear His voice.  She just needed to experience His presence.  She believed that just being in the presence with Jesus – even the slightest contact – was enough to change her life.  We should not doubt the power that the proximity to Jesus can have upon our life.

Supernaturally speaking, what influence can we feel from the proximity of Jesus?  Emotionally, how does the proximity of Jesus affect us?  Socially, how does just being in the presence of Christ change who we are?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 5:30-34