Mark Chapter 2 - Day 2

The Son of Man Forgives and Heals

2 When He entered Capernaum again after some days, it was reported that He was at home. 2 So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and He was speaking the message to them. 3 Then they came to Him bringing a paralytic, carried by four men. 4 Since they were not able to bring him to[a] Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where He was. And when they had broken through, they lowered the mat on which the paralytic was lying.

5 Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

6 But some of the scribes were sitting there, thinking to themselves:[b] 7 “Why does He speak like this? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgivesins but God alone?”

8 Right away Jesus understood in His spirit that they were thinking like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts?[c] 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your mat, and walk’? 10 But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” He told the paralytic, 11 “I tell you: get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”

12 Immediately he got up, picked up the mat, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

The Call of Matthew

13 Then Jesus went out again beside the sea. The whole crowd was coming to Him, and He taught them. 14 Then, moving on, He saw Levithe son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office, and He said to him, “Follow Me!” So he got up and followed Him.

Dining with Sinners

15 While He was reclining at the table in Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were also guests[d] with Jesus and His disciples, because there were many who were following Him. 16 When the scribes of the Pharisees[e] saw that He was eating with sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples, “Why does He eat[f] with tax collectors and sinners?”

17 When Jesus heard this, He told them, “Those who are well don’t need a doctor, but the sick do need one. I didn’t come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

A Question about Fasting

18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees[g] were fasting. People came and asked Him, “Why do John’s disciples and the Pharisees’ disciples fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

19 Jesus said to them, “The wedding guests[h] cannot fast while the groom is with them, can they? As long as they have the groom with them, they cannot fast. 20 But the time[i] will come when the groom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in that day. 21 No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new patch pulls away from the old cloth, and a worse tear is made.22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost as well as the skins.[j] But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

Lord of the Sabbath

23 On the Sabbath He was going through the grainfields, and His disciples began to make their way picking some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David and those who were with him did when he was in need and hungry— 26 how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the sacred bread—which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests—and also gave some to his companions?” 27 Then He told them, “The Sabbath was made for[k] man and not man for[l] the Sabbath.28 Therefore, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Jeremy's Commentary:

Todays text, helps us to settle in.  At times you can almost hear the seagulls outside of his Capernium home, as it fills with people, coming to Jesus with their needs.  Today we hear the ever famous Sunday School story about the faith of friends.  There is definately a sermon there.  Many probably.  At one point the word says "Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic "Son, your sins are forgiven."" There is something to be said about this their.  Their faith, his sins.  Wow!! Praise God!  

Working our way in and out of some theological discussions about forgiving sins, the authority of Christ, fasting, Sabbath rest, we see a passage (our verse of the day) about Jesus not coming for those that are well, but for the sick.  Would I be wrong, to marry the 2 verses together.  When evangelizing, and witnesses to the lost, and spending time with them in community, could my faith be enough to begin the process?  Could me, trying to bring people to the Gospel the best way I know how be enough, for the King of Kings to grant a pardon, so that they may come to faith?  I sure would like to try.  

Last month I read a scripture in Matthew, and it is still sticking with me.  Matthew 16:18 - And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the forces of Hades will not overpower it.  I think its time we start kicking some gates down.

Question of the Day:

Have you been so bold with your faith in bringing someone to The Gospel that Jesus had to notice?  How did that work out for you?

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, You are the Author and Finisher of our faith.  Give us that faithful boldness to bring people to The Gospel which ever way we can.  Teach us to go out of our way to share Your love!  In Your name we pray, and Your will be done.  

- Bible Text thanks to minsitry of BibleGateway.com and HCSB

- https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+1&version=HCSB&interface=print

-Key verse in BOLD

- Published by Jeremy Tramell - Oct 15th, 2014

Day 47 - 50 Day Journey To Christ

Daily Reading:

Matthew 1

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

The Genealogy of Jesus Christ

1 The historical record of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:

From Abraham to David

2 Abraham fathered Isaac,

Isaac fathered Jacob,

Jacob fathered Judah and his brothers,

3 Judah fathered Perez and Zerah by Tamar,

Perez fathered Hezron,

Hezron fathered Aram,

4 Aram fathered Amminadab,

Amminadab fathered Nahshon,

Nahshon fathered Salmon,

5 Salmon fathered Boaz by Rahab,

Boaz fathered Obed by Ruth,

Obed fathered Jesse,

6 and Jesse fathered King David.

From David to the Babylonian Exile

Then David fathered Solomon by Uriah’s wife,

7 Solomon fathered Rehoboam,

Rehoboam fathered Abijah,

Abijah fathered Asa,

8 Asa fathered Jehoshaphat,

Jehoshaphat fathered Joram,

Joram fathered Uzziah,

9 Uzziah fathered Jotham,

Jotham fathered Ahaz,

Ahaz fathered Hezekiah,

10 Hezekiah fathered Manasseh,

Manasseh fathered Amon,

Amon fathered Josiah,

11 and Josiah fathered Jechoniah and his brothers

at the time of the exile to Babylon.

From the Exile to the Messiah

12 Then after the exile to Babylon

Jechoniah fathered Shealtiel,

Shealtiel fathered Zerubbabel,

13 Zerubbabel fathered Abiud,

Abiud fathered Eliakim,

Eliakim fathered Azor,

14 Azor fathered Zadok,

Zadok fathered Achim,

Achim fathered Eliud,

15 Eliud fathered Eleazar,

Eleazar fathered Matthan,

Matthan fathered Jacob,

16 and Jacob fathered Joseph the husband of Mary,

who gave birth to Jesus who is called the Messiah.

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were 14 generations; and from David until the exile to Babylon, 14 generations; and from the exile to Babylon until the Messiah, 14 generations.

The Nativity of the Messiah

18 The birth of Jesus Christ came about this way: After His mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, it was discovered before they came together that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. 19 So her husband Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her publicly, decided to divorce her secretly.

20 But after he had considered these things, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, don’t be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is by the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”

22 Now all this took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet:

23 See, the virgin will become pregnant

and give birth to a son,

and they will name Him Immanuel,

which is translated “God is with us.”

24 When Joseph got up from sleeping, he did as the Lord’s angel had commanded him. He married her 25 but did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son. And he named Him Jesus.

Key:  Bold - Verse of the Day 

Reflection:  The verse of the day is the fulfillment of biblical prophecy.  This prophecy can be found in Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive, have a son, and name him Immanuel."  Throughout the Old Testament (or Old Covenant) we have been guided lovingly to this very point in time; the birth of our Savior and King who has first come as a living sacrifice for us all, and then, in His second coming, will return as King of kings and Lord of lords.  Here, on the night of His birth, prophecy is fulfilled.  From this point on, our focus is on #nonebutChrist.

Discussion Topic:  Who would have thought, at that moment in time, at the birth of a boy child, that a new chapter in the war against the enemy had begun.  With Jesus on earth, it signaled the Kingdom of God's invasion into the enemy's territory.  Do you think Mary and Joseph had any idea of exactly what the significance of Jesus' birth was?

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Prayer:  Oh Lord, Your plan from the beginning was to create a people in Your image who would choose to love, obey and worship You of their own free will.  Sin came into the world in the Garden of Eden, but even then You knew that the day would come when You send Your only Son to rescue us from Your judgment of our sins and bring us back into a relationship with You.  Father, there are no words to describe how thankful I am that You sent your Son, my Savior, to this earth to save me and to make me a child of the Living God.  As I meditate on what was begun on that night, may your Holy Spirit wash over me and fill me anew, that I may sing songs of joy and raise up praises to You with a clean heart and a renewed mind and may this Christmas season offer us many more opportunities to share the gospel with others.  To You be the glory and honor and praise forever and ever!  Amen!

Acknowledgements:  Scripture - BibleGateway.com, Image - Believers Journey

Day 23 - 50 day journey to Christ

Daily Reading:

Psalm 18

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

For the choir director. Of the servant of the Lord, David, who spoke the words of this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said:

¹ I love You, Lord, my strength.

² The Lord is my rock,
my fortress, and my deliverer,
my God, my mountain where I seek refuge,
my shield and the horn of my salvation,
my stronghold.
³ I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise,
and I was saved from my enemies.

⁴ The ropes of death were wrapped around me;
the torrents of destruction terrified me.
⁵ The ropes of Sheol entangled me;
the snares of death confronted me.
⁶ I called to the Lord in my distress,
and I cried to my God for help.
From His temple He heard my voice,
and my cry to Him reached His ears.

⁷ Then the earth shook and quaked;
the foundations of the mountains trembled;
they shook because He burned with anger.
⁸ Smoke rose from His nostrils,
and consuming fire came from His mouth;
coals were set ablaze by it.
⁹ He parted the heavens and came down,
a dark cloud beneath His feet.
¹⁰ He rode on a cherub and flew,
soaring on the wings of the wind.
¹¹ He made darkness His hiding place,
dark storm clouds His canopy around Him.
¹² From the radiance of His presence,
His clouds swept onward with hail and blazing coals.
¹³ The Lord thundered from heaven;
the Most High projected His voice.
¹⁴ He shot His arrows and scattered them;
He hurled lightning bolts and routed them.
¹⁵ The depths of the sea became visible,
the foundations of the world were exposed,
at Your rebuke, Lord,
at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

¹⁶ He reached down from heaven
and took hold of me;
He pulled me out of deep waters.
¹⁷ He rescued me from my powerful enemy
and from those who hated me,
for they were too strong for me.
¹⁸ They confronted me in the day of my distress,
but the Lord was my support.
¹⁹ He brought me out to a spacious place;
He rescued me because He delighted in me.

²⁰ The Lord rewarded me
according to my righteousness;
He repaid me
according to the cleanness of my hands.
²¹ For I have kept the ways of the Lord
and have not turned from my God to wickedness.
²² Indeed, I have kept all His ordinances in mind
and have not disregarded His statutes.
²³ I was blameless toward Him
and kept myself from sinning.
²⁴ So the Lord repaid me
according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

²⁵ With the faithful
You prove Yourself faithful;
with the blameless man
You prove Yourself blameless;
²⁶ with the pure
You prove Yourself pure,
but with the crooked
You prove Yourself shrewd.
²⁷ For You rescue an afflicted people,
but You humble those with haughty eyes.
²⁸ Lord, You light my lamp;
my God illuminates my darkness.
²⁹ With You I can attack a barrier,
and with my God I can leap over a wall.

³⁰ God—His way is perfect;
the word of the Lord is pure.
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
³¹ For who is God besides Yahweh?
And who is a rock? Only our God.
³² God—He clothes me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
³³ He makes my feet like the feet of a deer
and sets me securely on the heights.
³⁴ He trains my hands for war;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
³⁵ You have given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your right hand upholds me,
and Your humility exalts me.
³⁶ You widen a place beneath me for my steps,
and my ankles do not give way.

³⁷ I pursue my enemies and overtake them;
I do not turn back until they are wiped out.
³⁸ I crush them, and they cannot get up;
they fall beneath my feet.
³⁹ You have clothed me with strength for battle;
You subdue my adversaries beneath me.
⁴⁰ You have made my enemies retreat before me;
I annihilate those who hate me.
⁴¹ They cry for help, but there is no one to save them—
they cry to the Lord, but He does not answer them.
⁴² I pulverize them like dust before the wind;
I trample them like mud in the streets.

⁴³ You have freed me from the feuds among the people;
You have appointed me the head of nations;
a people I had not known serve me.
⁴⁴ Foreigners submit to me grudgingly;
as soon as they hear, they obey me.
⁴⁵ Foreigners lose heart
and come trembling from their fortifications.

⁴⁶ The Lord lives—may my rock be praised!
The God of my salvation is exalted.
⁴⁷ God—He gives me vengeance
and subdues peoples under me.
⁴⁸ He frees me from my enemies.
You exalt me above my adversaries;
You rescue me from violent men.
⁴⁹ Therefore I will praise You, Yahweh, among the nations;
I will sing about Your name.
⁵⁰ He gives great victories to His king;
He shows loyalty to His anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.

Key:  Bold - Verse of the Day

Reflection:  Todays Psalm finds us standing in front of David, as he testifies about the Lords deliverence from the hand of his enemies.  The psalm begins in despair and humilty, and as we travel through the verses we begin to feel the rise of deliverance, the surge of emotion as he revels in the work of the Lords hand.  Look how he addresses the Lord in the opening;  his "rock", his "fortress", his "deliver", his "God", his "mountain", his "sheild", the "horn of his salvation", and finally his "stronghold."  Amazing perspective.

Discussion Topic:  Do you have a story you can share about how your were able to put God into perspective, and allow Him to put your problems into perspective accordingly?

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Acknowledgements: Text - BibleGateway.com, Image - White Cross SCA Battle Shield, Image Website - http://www.a2armory.com/scabatshielt.html