To be continued - Mark 8:25

After that he put his hands again upon his eyes, and made him look up: and he was restored, and saw every man clearly. (Mark 8.25)

Have you been for an eye test recently? The Lord Jesus is better than any optician. As I read through the Gospels, it is interesting to see how He uses different treatments to heal blind people. Today’s man has two eye tests. He is healed gradually not immediately.

Not Nasty but Nice - Mark 7:27

Jesus said unto her, Let the children first be filled (Mark 7.27)

At first, it seems like the Lord Jesus is being horrible to this woman. She has a serious problem, so she comes to the Lord Jesus for help. Yet He takes His time and carefully guides her. She understands her need. She expects that He can meet that need. But she must also realise how little she deserves His mercy. At last in desperation this lady begs for His help, knowing she can’t earn it. Then the Lord answers her cry and heals her daughter.

 It’s the same for me! To truly appreciate His greatness, I need to be aware of my own unworthiness. Only then can I understand how kind He is to help me.

Teens Talk

She was of the age of twelve years, Mark 5. 42.

Twelve is an important age for Jewish children. It marks the time when they officially become young people. Boys celebrate this at their Bar Mitzvah ceremony. The Lord Jesus has always been interested in young people. Jairus’ daughter was about to begin her teens. John the disciple was probably near the end of his teens when he first met the Lord. Most people write off teenagers as awkward immature individuals – but the Lord Jesus sees my value and potential however young or old I am.

God’s plan for public services

Short Reading – Mark 10:35-45 

Longer Reading – Mark 10:28-52

Key Verse – Mark 10:45

The Lord Jesus really shook people up ,and in particular his disciples, with the teaching that he gave. I can only imagine the shocked looks on their faces when he announced that for anyone to be great in his Government they would need to serve everybody, v 44.

Who gave you the right to do that?

Short Reading – Mark 11:27-33 

Longer Reading – Mark 11:20-33

Key Verse – Mark 11:28

Sometimes when I am trying to tell someone about what I believe they respond like this. Don’t shove religion down my throat! Who gave you the right to tell me that?

The rulers of the nation of Israel were out to get the Lord Jesus. They didn’t like the attention he was being given and as far as they were concerned he was a major threat.

Tell Tale

Tell them how great things the Lord hath done, Mark 5.19.

When the Lord Jesus arrives in a new life, like Legion’s, or a new area, like Gadara, then change is bound to happen. And when the Lord Jesus makes changes, they are always improvements, though maybe I don’t see things that way! Of course the people of Gadara were much better off without the influence of demons or the uncleanness of pigs. Sadly they didn’t realise this at the time. They wanted the Lord Jesus to leave as quickly as possible!

Only one person was desperate for the Lord Jesus to stay. That was Legion. The Lord had done so much for Him. Once he was a wild man but now he has been tamed by Christ. He used to run around but now he sits at Christ’s feet. He used to be naked but now he wears clean clothes. He used to be crazy but now he is just fine. What an amazing change! He is a new man altogether.

Legion has only spent a few hours with the Lord Jesus, and already he is being left behind. He needs to be Christ’s messenger in his home town, an ambassador for Christ. I have the same job in today’s godless society, no matter how long or short I have been a Christian. I must tell people about the great things that the Lord Jesus has done for me.

So how much do I appreciate what He has done? He has given me a seat in heaven. Check out Eph 2.6. He lets me wear a robe of righteousness. Check out Isa 61.10. He has introduced me to a completely new way of thinking. Check out Phil 2.5. Will my behaviour and my conversation today demonstrate to people around me what wonderful changes Christ can make?

Money could keep you out of heaven!

Money could keep you out of heaven!

Short Reading – Mark 10:17-27             

Longer Reading – Mark 10:1-27

Key Verse – Mark 10:21

Life is busy, time is money and there are many questions on my mind. Meet the man who thought money could buy everything!

His question was – ‘What shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?’ The key to the man’s question are the words ‘do’ and ‘inherit’. He was a self made man; everything he had achieved was as a result of what he had done. He probably had worked hard for everything he had. He thought of eternal life as something he could inherit. An inheritance is wealth that someone has worked hard to accumulate and the people who inherit it have a right to it. He wants eternal life but he doesn’t understand that you don’t get it the way you get wealth and possessions.