Mark 7:24-37 ~ He arose †

 

Jesus walking the Beach of Tyre. The painting has storm clouds. 

Mark 7:24-37

24 And from there he arose and went away to the region of Tyre and Sidon.

And he entered a house and did not want anyone to know, yet he could not be hidden. 25 But immediately a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit heard of him and came and fell down at his feet. 26 Now the woman was a Gentile, a Syrophoenician by birth. And she begged him to cast the demon out of her daughter.

27 And he said to her, "Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs."

28 But she answered him, "Yes, Lord; yet even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs."

29 And he said to her, "For this statement you may go your way; the demon has left your daughter."

30 And she went home and found the child lying in bed and the demon gone.

31 Then he returned from the region of Tyre and went through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, in the region of the Decapolis.

32 And they brought to him a man who was deaf and had a speech impediment, and they begged him to lay his hand on him.

33 And taking him aside from the crowd privately, he put his fingers into his ears, and after spitting touched his tongue. 34 And looking up to heaven, he sighed and said to him, "Ephphatha," that is, "Be opened." 35 And his ears were opened, his tongue was released, and he spoke plainly. 

 And Jesus charged them to tell no one. But the more he charged them, the more zealously they proclaimed it. 

37 And they were astonished beyond measure, saying, "He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak."

We tend to think of Jesus bringing a level of calm in this painting of Jesus.  Yesterday our Post looked at Jesus as Let There Be Light. A good idea to study the evening of the moon's eclipse. These Verses in Mark 7 are about Jesus finishing a heated discussion of Light and dark.

And this is about the struggle to find Joy as a Choice. These 24-37 Verses speak of dealing with the prince of the air, dark unhappiness.  Jesus is always greater. Life is the Prodigal Son, we make our choices and ask Jesus to help us surface again with joy. Jesus wants healing. Jesus is encouraging. Stay with Jesus Christ.

Jesus chose Joy. And in this verse, Jesus uses a "Word" Jesus enjoys and employs, Arise. 

Mark 5:41

Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, 

“Little girl, I say to you, arise.”

Luke 7:14

Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.”

Luke 15:18

I will arise and go to my father, 

and I will say to him, 

“Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

Luke 24:38

And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, 

and why do doubts arise in your hearts?

Matthew 2:13

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 

“Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, 

and remain there until I tell you, 

for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”

Matthew 9:5

For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, 

‘Rise and walk’?

Matthew 17:7

But Jesus came and touched them, saying, 

“Rise, and have no fear.”

Matthew 26:46

Rise, let us be going

Matthew 28:7

Then go quickly and tell his disciples that

 he has risen from the dead, 

and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.”

Our Verses today begin with arise. Something to think about when statistics say 69% of Americans are unhappy.  Arise.  Asking God's Help, Comfort, Encouragement, Love and Mercy. At Christmas, our KSBJ Christian Radio reminds us to Choose Joy. Endurance, Patience, Strength and Hope. God rewards the faithful.

Needlepoint. Life pushes us around and down. Jesus asks up to come up and be fruitful. Jesus wants us in Encouragement, Love and Strength.

How was Jesus using deliberate ways to Rise? 

Something God tells us to do. 

Rest. Jesus is resting away from the conflict. 

Physically, 

Jesus reminds those who are annoyed with Jesus' actions. And he reminds them they exert physically to rescue an ox or farm animals. 

Jesus is walking away. He is putting down His own emotions in the earlier portion of  Mark 7. Jesus is speaking of physical effort and rules, people who honor God with the lips and Jesus takes Himself far away. The Bible is literal. And Jesus literally applies His own Words to walk away, quite a distance from the conflict.

Jesus is about exercise. The Body is a Temple. Jesus takes time to look at the Goodness of Creation. This is time to enjoy the Work of God's Creation. To bask in the joys God gives us.

In the other verses, about "Rise", Jesus makes the point of forgiveness. And wishing, praying, the other person well. Jesus is not bitter. Jesus moves on.

Expectation, 

Jesus expects God will provide for Him. As His Father has done for Jesus even as a small infant.

Silence. Even in the remarks of all surrounding the Goodness of God, the Mercy of Jesus is Shining as Brightly as Luke 1. Exactly expressing,  John's Gospel begins with Light of the world.

Luke 1

in the forgiveness of their sins,

78 because of the tender mercy of our God,

    whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

    to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Abba, Father God,

Bless us, we ask in the Highest Name of Jesus, as we speak with You in our hearts.

Malachi 3 ~ The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a Book of Remembrance was written before Him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed His Name.

Lord Jesus Christ, High above every Name.

 And answer us as we set forth to do this Life. To please You.

 To be understanding of Your Guidance each day and in each conversation.

Your Lord's Prayer says Give us this Day. Enable us to build this day and as we ask Jesus to pray with us, we will do the prayer of Your Righteousness 
and have Your ear and availeth much.

More of Heaven upon earth.

Proverbs 2

1 My child, listen to what I say,

and treasure my commands.

2 Tune your ears to wisdom,

and concentrate on understanding.

3 Cry out for insight,

and ask for understanding.

4 Search for them as you would for silver;

seek them like hidden treasures.

5 Then you will understand what it means to reverence the Lord,

and you will gain knowledge of God.

6 For the Lord grants wisdom!

From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest.

He is a shield to those who walk with integrity.

8 He guards the paths of the just

and protects those who are faithful to him.

9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,

and you will find the right way to go.

10 For wisdom will enter your heart,

and knowledge will fill you with joy.

11 Wise choices will watch over you.

Understanding will keep you safe.

Dwell in me, Father God. Dwell in those I Love, Lord Jesus Christ.

 Dwell in this Nation and the Nations seeking You. 

Help us to seek You first. 

And to find and to become more Heaven on earth.

More of Ephesians 3 within families, with Jesus' Help.

In the Highest Name of Son,

 Your Love and Jesus, we shall be Healed. 

We pray for Edward's very sprained right wrist

and my foot.

Thank You for the healing in Elliott's family and the Love

and care they are going forth in Jesus.

We ask only in Jesus. 

We Pray for the Republic.

We the People all have Family and Loved Ones 

we have fought and lived and died

for our Freedoms.

In Jesus, we will finish well!

We the People pray for the Election Process to be Clear.

We pray for the observations to be valid and up close and bipartisan.

We pray for the Legislature Laws of this Nation to be Upheld

One Nation Under God

with

Liberty and Justice for All.

We pray for Way, Truth and Life.

Knowing in the Truth is where Peace and Integrity 

with Love and Courtesy Dwell.

I thank you for my vaccine, we have been

Covid free.

You have told us to always pray with Hope.

Jesus ,help us 

to be in Your Word and see more Joy.

Ukraine and God's Beloved 

Covered in God's Love,

Bless Your Good Creation.

Amen in Jesus, Amen.

On earth as it is in Heaven!

Jesus, God of Encouragement.

Jesus, Hope and Future.

Jesus the Lord

saves the world

Amen.

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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Luke 16 ~ God knows our hearts

 

Luke 16

16 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ 

3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’ 5 So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 

6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 

7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. 

For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light.

 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches?

 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

14 The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all these things, and they ridiculed him.

15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

16 “The Law and the Prophets were until John; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is preached, and everyone forces his way into it. 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one dot of the Law to become void.

18 “Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries a woman divorced from her husband commits adultery.

19 “There was a rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate was laid a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who desired to be fed with what fell from the rich man's table. Moreover, even the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried, 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. 

24 And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ 

25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. 26 And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’ 27 And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, to send him to my father's house— 28 for I have five brothers—so that he may warn them, lest they also come into this place of torment.’ 29 But Abraham said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ 

30 And he said, ‘No, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.’”

John 2:25 
He did not need any testimony about mankind,
 for he knew what was in each person.

Jesus, meek and mild. Is a myth. Jesus had ideas about heart faith and heart longing. What He wanted to see people reveal in warmth about themselves. I know a woman who lost a child

and she determined to be brave and to exhibit trust in the Lord. And all that stiff upper lip, let her down. Her friends gathered around her and told her to be more human. And they set about honoring the life of her child. All her best intentions to be a dignified Christian witness about loss, didn't go very well. She didn't live her emotions, and she didn't have enough grief to seem human to even those who love her.

I've been told in the past, my conversations were listened to, and I was found wanting. And I think they hoped to get a sermon. Yet all the Pastors in the world, will listen to music that isn't Christian. We all are merely people.

This passage is telling us Jesus is Lord. We are not. We cannot be someone's salvation. The best we can hope for is this, with the Grace of God.

Bill Hybels, Willow Creek Community Church, wrote a book called, "Walk Across the Room." Bill was challenged to not use his pulpit or his Church to bring someone to Christ.  Why do we fail to live to show the Light of Jesus? According to this book, the real Christian has a relationship with the real Jesus. And without curiosity, intimacy, depth, warmth, reality we don't have the words and space to tell what Jesus is to us. The right to be heard.

Bill learned as he paid attention to bringing just one person to Christ, he had never realized that as he attended, with other parents, a soccer game - how people edged away from him. Feelings are on the line. Why did Bill have hurt feelings? There is as much judgment about Christian depth as there is in Christian avoidance.

To borrow a phrase: And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

The Cellophane doesn't fall far off the hamburger, when the Chicken tries to be brave. What's good to goose others, gooses us right back. We are all so geared to signal we are good people, we aren't comfortable to give each other room. 

This is a season of struggling. We went to Austin, Texas this weekend and waited at a table, with a view, to place our order. And the view became watching the wait person carefully straighten her face from suffering, to be exuberant about the products and beverages she was serving. Her place was to create an atmosphere of fun. Something to think about. People are telling each other their lives, if we pay attention. I saw this everywhere we went this weekend. And some of this is about an inch deep show of show showy without depth. It is an odd season in life.

What we want, to find someone we respect to listen to us and give us an opinion we want.

Jesus didn't do this. And in this space, we don't find Jesus has His elbows out to give us an incredible black eye of superiority. Instead, Jesus is trying to expand goodness by identifying what is dark and escape. Jesus has a rough job. But how would we know what Jesus thinks unless Jesus is Honest.  Goodness belongs to God.

This is where I want to march. I want Jesus to be honest, and then I intend to think and do what pleases Jesus. Why. People have variations.  If depth is there, the relationship continues. Jesus is yesterday, today and tomorrow. A Hope and a Future.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the Life. Let there be Light. 

Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow!

Luke 1 

Go before the Lord to prepare his ways,

77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people

    in the forgiveness of their sins,

78 because of the tender mercy of our God,

    whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

79 to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

    to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

Let there be Light. 

Genesis 1:4

And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

Genesis 1:18

And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness:  and God saw that it was good.

When we need the Lord. His Steadfast Love.

2 Samuel 22:29

For thou art my lamp, O Lord: and the Lord will lighten my darkness.

Psalm 18:28

For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness.

God, our Father, will never leave or forsake us.

Job 3:4

Let that day be darkness; let not God regard it from above, 

neither let the light shine upon it.

Borrowing a phrase ~

And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth, so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

2 Timothy 2:22

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

Job 10:22

A land of darkness, as darkness itself; and of the shadow of death, without any order, and where the light is as darkness.

Surely, this man is the Son of God!

Job 12:22

He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light 

the shadow of death.

Jesus isn't giving comfort all the time, Jesus gives teaching. And then Jesus gives meaningful

discernment and Comfort!

Psalm 112:4

Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

Romans 13:12

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light

Consider how many Chapters of the Gospel, Jesus is bringing profound Life changing Joy.

God of Love. God of encouragement. God of Salvation. God of Eternity. God does not need us to be weak, when God upholds the universe with the Power of His Word.

Ephesians 4:32 

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, 

as God in Christ forgave you.

Mark 6:34 

When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. 

And he began to teach them many things.

Abba, Father,

Japan has massive knife murders.

U.K. has seen an incredibly increasing number of knife murders.

We saw Buffalo, NY have murder, calling it race.

California murders.

We have to take the cellophane off the misery wall.

We desire for a meaningful life.

And then we do not provide our mouths' room to have

this meaningful life.

We offer instead petty judgments

offerings of false piety.

And in this fear of being seen as imperfect

we can't have anyone see us as flawed.

Help us Jesus

to live the Way, Truth and The Life.

We need honesty and not control

Favor and not mush

Help and not false leadership

Help us find the Path Again

in Jesus Christ.

Dwell in us.

Dwell in those we Love.

Abba, Please Dwell in those 

we pray for.

In Your Love we will seek You first

and finish well in Jesus.

For all those who have suffered

and all those who hope in Prayers.

Jesus Blessings.

Alleluia Jesus Christ.

Amen.

Jesus

Abba, Father,

In Jesus Christ, we will never give up.

Jesus the God of ALL.

Jesus, we pray Life and healing

Joy and Love in all of us.

Jesus, God of Encouragement.

Jesus, Hope and Future.

Jesus the Lord

saves the world

Amen.

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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John 12:20-26 ~ we wish to see Jesus

 

John 12:20-26

Now among those who went up to worship at the feast were some Greeks. 

21 So these came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and asked him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 

22 Philip went and told Andrew; Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 

23 And Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 

25 Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 

26 If anyone serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there will my servant be also. If anyone serves me, the Father will honor him.

Jesus, when we read of Him, we find, He did not want to break a bruised reed in mankind. 

And in early Church History, we find Titus was known to be part of Jesus' 72 early disciples. The larger group than the 12 Disciples, sent ahead.  Titus had let the Greek dispersion know about the lame can walk, the deaf hear, the blind can see, the leper is cleansed and the poor have good news preached to them. The Greek Dispersion in Greece had their majority, the largest population on the Isle of Crete.  These are the people, the Jewish Israel Dispersion Greeks, who came on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

If we don't seek and find the response of Jesus to the Greek Jews,  eager to meet Jesus, the answer seems depressed or sad. In fact, this is Jesus doing the Salvation His Father had sent Him to do.

Let's look again at Jesus replying:

1. You are late, I'm on the path to Jerusalem. 

Glory is about to occur. Jesus sends them the Gift of His Word. He recognizes they seek Him to find Him. He honors the work they have put in their faith and travel.

2. I'm not as alone as you think, God is present. 

The Pharisees had hoped Jesus would leave and go to the dispersion. They meant this unkindly, but Jesus knew the Jewish Greek Dispersion heart. And Jesus is saying the incredible Salvation has begun.

3. Jesus' point to us in John's Gospel Chapters from 14 to 17, Jesus finds our life on earth to be Joy. Jesus loves Life. He is saying, Jesus would love to travel with the Greeks. Jesus is making the decision to follow God and not the continued Life of Joy. We know the sacrifice of Jesus' own life was exceedingly sad to Jesus.

4. The hearts of the Dispersion asks Jesus to come and be served. Jesus is expecting them to continue to be part of Jesus' life. They have heard much, let them journey with Jesus. Not to end the seeking as Jesus tells them, no. Jesus is giving them the commission to serve Him. And in the Service of Jesus, for their kindness, Jesus is going to honor these men.

All photos of Crete

The Life recorded in Crete, by the Book of the Disciple Titus, is one of Peace. 

The Jews and the Christians did not fall out. Titus, like the Disciple John, lived to be remarkably old. Titus is one of the very few Disciples of the 72, where history records the Church community building a Church.  When we look at Patmos and Crete, we find the land of milk and honey. Something that ancient Judea was foretold, yet wasn't a daily part of the ancient world of Judea. 

Patmos for John, Beloved of God, Book of Revelations and also the History of the Romans.

The Gif photo was told to be made from in front of John's dwelling.

 Luke 1

  

   You will go before the Lord to prepare His ways,

to give knowledge of salvation to His people

    in the forgiveness of their sins

78 Because of the tender mercy of our God,

    whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high

79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,

    to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Does this seem to be the Word of the Lord?

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please Him, 

for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists 

and 

that He rewards those who seek Him.

We are daily invited to read the Word of God.

 Abide in God. Seek and ye shall find. 

With the Parable of the 10 talents, we find, 

God wants us to look to see Him working today and active, to find His mercies renew daily. 

The 1970s saw art displaying Jesus, even at Christmas, either like elementary, simple folk art or austere museum depictions. Jesus found Joy in life. We work to do this faith. 

Jesus tells us, "The work of mankind is to believe God." 

The father standing in front of Jesus with the son, so ill, cried out to Jesus he had faith, but he needed the help of Jesus to find more faith. The son was healed. Jesus hears us and knows us and says we will find God to be the corrupt Judge, and His reply to this is, "Always pray with Hope." Faith, Hope and Love. The Greatest is Love. Love the Lord God with all your mind, heart and soul.

Abide in God. His Living Word.

Abba, Father God,

Help me to be one of that number. In the Highest Name of Jesus. 

Dwell in us,  Reach past our brim, help Love flow shaken and running over!

Bless our Families with Your Love.

Help us seek You first.

Dwell in those we Love, help them to brim with Your Love.

In this Way, Truth and Life

we will see more Heaven upon earth,

Your Good Creation.

We will finish well in Jesus Christ.

We wish to see Jesus.

Fill us with Hope and Love and Joy.

Bless our Nation in Jesus Christ.

Bless Ukraine, all those in the

Pandemic who draw closer to Jesus.

Let us turn away,

not clickbait the things unappealing to You,

Turn us to Blessings and Building instead.

Our media statistics change, 

help us direct Your Love to our news.

Our Alleluia in Jesus Christ.

Amen

Our refuge is in You, Jesus, our Living Water.  

Amen

Jesus

Abba, Father,

In Jesus Christ, we will never give up.

Jesus the God of ALL.

Jesus, we pray Life and healing

Joy and Love in all of us.

Jesus, God of Encouragement.

Jesus, Hope and Future.

Jesus the Lord

saves the world

Amen.

♔ LORD JESUS SAVES †

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