Jesus - Saves

AdamsEve · Chief Honcho Joined: 14 Feb 2008 Posts: 1342

Looking For Jesus

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Mark’s focus is on what Jesus did.

Mark 1:35
The Sabbath is over and Jesus, after a busy evening of healings and exorcisms, got up early in the morning and sought a quiet place to pray.

He has been serving, touching, giving, teaching, healing.

Jesus is facing a crisis, with the shallow and superficial response of the people. They are only interested in what He can do to heal their physical afflictions.

Jesus seeks the strength and direction that only communion and fellowship with the Father can provide.

If Jesus needed this solitude, time for prayer, can we say we don’t?

To tithe / give a tenth — does this also include your time?

Any time spent with the Lord is time well spent.
It will yeild more fruit than everything you try on your own.

Mark 1:36
Simon - Peter

Mark 1:37
Miraculous acts equals instant fame. Jesus has other plans.

The disciples do not understand Jesus or his need for communion with the Father. So they go to look for him ( “ to track down ” or “ hunt for Him ” ).

Apparently they think Jesus will be pleased to know that everyone was looking for him ( v 37 ).
They do not understand that this popular and shallow reception of Him was the very reason he withdrew to pray.

Acts 17:27
God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.

Mark 1:38
Jesus comes back from prayer and says lets split My Father has other plans for me.

Father’s will...
Mark 14:36
“ Abba, Father, ” he said, “ everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will. ”

Father’s heart...
John 8:29
" The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him. ”

Father’s time...
John 2:4
“ Dear woman, why do you involve me? ” Jesus replied. “ My time has not yet come. ”

Jesus’ reply shows that he feared his healings and exorcisms were hindrances to understanding who he really was.

The people of Capernaum were interested in him as a popular miracle-worker.

Mark 1:39
In prayer with the Father Jesus was directed to move on as His true purpose was not being reconized.

Healings and exorcisms had their place ( v 39 ), but they were not to deter the primary purpose for which Jesus had come.

Mark 1:40
Desperation leads to faith and faith leads to deliverence. ( ? )

“ leprosy ” was used in biblical times to designate a wide variety of serious skin diseases. It was not limited to what we know as leprosy, ( Hansen’s disease. )

Whatever variety of skin disorder the man had, he was suffering. This suffering was social as well as physical.

The law required that “ the person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out ‘Unclean! Unclean! “

As long as he has the infection he remains unclean. He must live alone; he must live outside the camp. ( Lev 13:45-46 ).

Instead of keeping his distance from Jesus, as the law demanded, the leper came directly to him and fell down on his knees to make his plea. He had no doubt that Jesus could heal him. He only wondered whether Jesus was willing.

Is it sometimes easier to believe in God’s power than in his mercy?

Mark 1:41
The leper broke the law and Jesus also broke the law by touching him.

Mark 1:42
On the assumption that the correct reading of v 41 is “ being angered ” and not “ filled with compassion. ”

Jesus was angered in the presence of a foul disease that could only be the work of the Devil. Jesus’ anger was focused not on the man nor on the disease but on Satan whose work he came to destroy. Understood in this context, the incident becomes another example of the fierce conflict between Christ and Satan that plays such an important part in this Gospel.

Jesus expressed compassion. He reached out and touched the unclean leper, an act that, according to the Mosaic Law, incurred defilement. By his word alone he might have healed the leper; but the touch of his hand, to express the feeling of compassion.

He chose to take upon him our flesh, that he might cleanse us from our sins.

Jesus’ touching of the leper not only resulted in his being cured ( v 42 ) but also revealed Jesus’ attitude toward the ceremonial law. He boldly placed love and compassion over ritual and regulation.

Mark 3:4
Then Jesus asked them, “ Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill? ” But they remained silent.

Some medical actions just treat the problem, but with anything Jesus can cure it.

Mark 1:43
The verbs in this verse seem to confirm the reading ( “ being angry ”) in v 41. “ Sent him away ” which often is used of driving out demons; ( “ with a strong warning ” ).

An hint of anger or indignation is contained in Jesus’ warning.

Why? Jesus knew that the man would disobey him. The result was that Jesus could “ no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places ” ( v 45 ).

Mark 1:44
Are there times today that Christians should be quiet?

Jesus didn’t want the leper to tell anyone of his cure, Jesus did not want to gain the reputation of being just “ a miracle-worker ”. That would hinder the essential purpose of his ministry. So, he instructed the leper to go to those whose rule to decide if he was clean or not.

Jesus also told the man to offer sacrifices that were required by the Mosaic Law.

“ as a testimony to them ” — may be understood as a testimony to the priest and the people of the reality of the cure — that they fail to accept the healing as having been done by Jesus.

Although the latter hardly seems consistent with Jesus’ injunction to silence ( presumably about his miraculous powers ).

Mark 1:45
As Jesus acts in our lives, how and to whom should we testify?

The leper acted consistent with human nature.

The prohibition against telling what had happened to him made him all the more anxious to blab.

This resulted in curtailment of Jesus’ public ministry.

He avoided going into the towns and chose rather to stay in more isolated places.

But even in his isolation people managed to find him and came to him from everywhere.

Recap

Is there a benifit praying in solitute ( personal ) compared to corporate ( generic )?

What about early in the morning or evening? (both/anytime)
( Seek the Lord day and night will cause everything to be all right. )

Are our prayers the decision of need or praise? or even the whims of others?
At times we need to deny the crowds/world and pursue the will of God.

Is there a time for words without deeds or vise versa?

Are there groups that are ostracized today?
Is the church part of the problem or solution?

Prayer:
Dear Lord, I pray we all look of Jesus, no not look but seek Him with all our hearts and then hear what He tells us and then obey. There is nothing else that I want more than to walk closer to Him each day. Thank You Lord. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

TGIF

_________________
Acts 4:12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name
under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”