Mark 5:1-20 Who Have You Given Up On?

Hi Chatterboxes, sorry I was AWOL yesterday! I wasn't quite abducted by aliens (see the "How This Works" page), but my computer was help hostage by strange and hostile programs that made it impossible to load a page. (And yes, I am now counting Internet Explorer among them! Thankfully, a Google-eyed knight in Chrome armor slayed that dragon!)

So anyhow, here's a passage for you to read. It's kinda creepy. But it's a good reminder that God can work in ANY circumstance, even the ones that seem impossible from a human standpoint. Is there someone in your life that you're in danger of giving up on? (Or maybe you're in danger of giving up on yourself?) Don't stop praying!!! No matter what the circumstances are, God is bigger.

Mark 5:1-20 (New International Version, ©2010)

Mark 5

Jesus Restores a Demon-Possessed Man

 ¹ They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.^[a] 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. ³ This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. ⁴ For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. ⁵Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.

 ⁶ When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. ⁷ He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” ⁸ For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”

 ⁹ Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”

   “My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” ¹⁰ And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.

 ¹¹ A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. ¹² The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” ¹³ He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.

 ¹⁴ Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. ¹⁵ When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.¹⁶ Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. ¹⁷ Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.

 ¹⁸ As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. ¹⁹ Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” ²⁰ So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis^[b] how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

Wow, what a testimony that guy had!!! I'll try to chatter more after work, but I've got a couple busy weeks here. So we shall see.

Mark 4:35-41 Jesus Calms the Storm

We have another favorite passage today: Jesus calming the wind and waves on the sea of Galilee. Boy, do we need to be reminded of this one over and over! "Why are you so afraid?" Good question!

Mark 4:35-41 (New International Version, ©2010)

Jesus Calms the Storm

 ³⁵ That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”  ³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
 ⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
 ⁴¹ They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”

What's going on? (Who, what, when, where, why)

The way I read it, this is the evening of the day that he taught the parable of the sower from the boat out on the lake. Jesus suggests going over to the other side of the lake (maybe to avoid being mobbed when he tried to disembark, who knows), and they left then and there, without making any preparations. Other boats came too--I had never really caught that before. I think in the past I usually thought of just the twelve disciples and the crowds--I didn't give much thought to the larger assembly of disciples that followed him around as well. But they were significant--in Jesus' time and in the early church.

A storm comes up, the boat (and probably the other boats) take on water, and the disciples wake Jesus up saying "Don't you care if we drown?" Notice that Jesus doesn't scold them for waking him up--it was a perfectly appropriate response to a crisis situation. He scolds them for being afraid, which betrayed a lack of faith. Jesus speaks to the wind and waves, they quiet down, and the disciples stop being afraid. Now, they're terrified. But they're terrified of the right person.

What's the main point?

I think the main point is that  Jesus is Lord over creation. There is nothing outside his power.

How might this apply to my life?

Hoo boy. I don't know about you all, but I sometimes get worried and worked up about things. ;-) Actually, I think I'm improving in this area, but laying down worry is part of that ongoing surrender we need to practice in our walk with Christ. If we've surrendered our lives, circumstances, children, marriage, etc. to Christ, and we are trying to live how God has called us to live, and God truly is big enough to handle anything, then what are we worried about? Horrible things may happen--scripture is very clear on that--but horrible things happen anyway. God is in control, so there is no reason to live in fear.

Mark 4:26-34 Growing Like a Weed

Here are two more parables that talk about seeds, growth, and the kingdom of God. I think the kingdom of God aspect could use more research--what exactly does Jesus mean by this? I'm seeing the theme of growth, massive growth. This reminds me of a passage I was just studying in Daniel, where a boulder "not cut by human hands" crushes the earthly kingdoms and grows into a mountain that fills the whole earth.

I'm not going to comment too much because I want to wait until this evening, when I have time to really get out my resources and dig into this topic. The emphasis on the kingdom of God and Jesus' references to himself as the "Son of Man" have deep roots in the book of Daniel, so that's probably where I'll start my search. What is Jesus referring to when he talks about the "kingdom of God?"

And remember, we're a diverse group, and likely to have a whole lot of different opinions about this. The nature of the kingdom of God has been a rather controversial topic throughout history. That's okay, as long as we keep the letter to the Ephesians in mind--we are all one family, with God as our father, and our unity in Christ is more important than our doctrinal disagreements. Jesus Himself is foremost, not our beliefs and opinions about him. Sing it with me! "We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord...and we pray that all unity may one day be restored...and they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love..." :-D

I'll fire up my Logos software tonight (super-cool software that has most of the major commentaries built in, and allows you to toggle between all the major English translations and the original languages), see what I can find out, and pass it along. Until then, chatter amongst yourselves!

Mark 4:26-34 (New International Version, ©2010)

The Parable of the Growing Seed

 ²⁶ He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come.”

The Parable of the Mustard Seed

 ³⁰ Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? ³¹ It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. ³² Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.”  ³³ With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. ³⁴ He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything.

Mark 4:21-25 Don't Get Stuck Hydrating with a Dixie Cup

Today, we're looking at four short verses. Before you dive into, though, it might not be a bad idea to go back and re-read yesterday's verses, so you catch the context Jesus is saying this in. (If you're navigating to this page from Facebook or Twitter, just click on "The Chatterbox Commentary" at the top of the page, and it will take you to the home page where you'll find the last several posts.)

My original plan had been to include the two short parables that come after this, but I changed my mind, since this so clearly refers to yesterday's reading, and it could get easily get buried in the imagery of the next parables. Let's take a look:

Mark 4:21-25 (New International Version, ©2010)

A Lamp on a Stand

 ²¹ He said to them, “Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed? Instead, don’t you put it on its stand? ²² For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open. ²³ If anyone has ears to hear, let them hear.”    ²⁴ “Consider carefully what you hear,” he continued. “With the measure you use, it will be measured to you—and even more. ²⁵ Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.”

Okay. So, yesterday, we read about the farmer who sowed the word of God. The disciples ask Jesus why he always speaks in parables, and Jesus says:

“The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables so that,
   “‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
   and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’”

Huh? Doesn't Jesus want people to turn and be forgiven?

Jesus is quoting the book of Isaiah here, from the chapter 6:9-10, where Isaiah agrees to go to the people on the Lord's behalf. God is sending Isaiah, but is telling him right up front that the people won't understand or accept his message--otherwise, they would turn from their sins and be healed. This, I think, is what was actually happening in Jesus' time. God had enough of sending the prophets, and came himself, but the people still refused to accept the message or perceive what was going on.

Then Jesus explains the parable of the sower to his disciples (scattering the word on all different sorts of soils) and gets on to today's reading about the lamp. Verse 22 is a juxtaposition to the Isaiah quote: "For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed; whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open."

So Jesus is laying it all out there. He's scattering the seed on good soil and bad alike. He has put the lamp up on the stand, and people have no more excuse for living in darkness. He urges his disciples to listen carefully to what he says, because "with whatever measure you use, it will be measured to you--and even more. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken away from them."

What does that mean? What's being measured out "according to the measure we use," what's being given or taken away?

If we look at the context, we find that it's the word of God. God is trying to speak to all of us, to impart truth, wisdom, and instruction. Some will receive it like the good soil, and it will produce good things in their life. The word will reproduce in their lives--they'll be given even more.

Some won't accept the word of God when it comes to them--they'll ignore God's truth, wisdom, and instruction. The seed lying on the hard, shallow ground will be whisked away by birds or wither when the heat is on.

Some will accept God's word, but only on a shallow, surface level. They'll look great for a while, but when the heat is on they'll wither, and won't produce a good crop. Some accept it, but allow everything else in their life to take precedence, choking out the harvest God wants to produce in them. They don't produce much either. Their measuring cup is filled with other things--they will only make room for so much of God's truth, wisdom, and instruction in their lives.

Application: Jesus has laid it all out there. Are you going to whole-heartedly embrace His truth, allow His wisdom and instruction to produce a crop in your life? Or are you going to be one of those people who hears what God is saying, but becomes so good at blocking it out, so skilled at ignoring the conviction the Holy Spirit, that you eventually don't even hear the truth anymore? Maybe it is drowned out by the stories and explanations and excuses you're making?

He who has ears, let him hear.

Don't brush God off. Don't ignore God's wisdom and instruction. It will only diminish your soul. And who wants a withered, stunted, or languishing soul?

Mark 4:1-20 What's the Dirt on You?

Uffda! Sick kiddo + Benadryl for mommy = one Chatterbox who overslept! Here's today's reading--I'll comment after work. Have fun--this is one of my faves!

Mark 4:1-20 (New International Version, ©2010)

Mark 4

The Parable of the Sower

 ¹ Again Jesus began to teach by the lake. The crowd that gathered around him was so large that he got into a boat and sat in it out on the lake, while all the people were along the shore at the water’s edge. ² He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said: ³ “Listen! A farmer went out to sow his seed. ⁴ As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. ⁵ Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. ⁶ But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. ⁷ Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants, so that they did not bear grain. ⁸ Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up, grew and produced a crop, some multiplying thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times.”  ⁹ Then Jesus said, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”
 ¹⁰ When he was alone, the Twelve and the others around him asked him about the parables. ¹¹ He told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you. But to those on the outside everything is said in parables ¹² so that,
   “‘they may be ever seeing but never perceiving,
   and ever hearing but never understanding;
otherwise they might turn and be forgiven!’^[a]”
 ¹³ Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t you understand this parable? How then will you understand any parable? ¹⁴ The farmer sows the word. ¹⁵ Some people are like seed along the path, where the word is sown. As soon as they hear it, Satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in them. ¹⁶ Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. ¹⁷ But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. ¹⁸ Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; ¹⁹ but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful. ²⁰ Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop—some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown.”

Mark 3:20-34 Jesus' Family Stages an Intervention

There's a lot to unpack in today's verses. Here we see two very different groups of people--one with good intentions, one with bad--trying to shut down Jesus' ministry.

Mark 3:20-34 (New International Version, ©2010)

Jesus Accused by His Family and by Teachers of the Law

 ²⁰ Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. ²¹ When his family^[a] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”  ²² And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”
 ²³ So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? ²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. ²⁶ And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. ²⁷ In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. ²⁸ Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, ²⁹ but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”
 ³⁰ He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”
 ³¹ Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. ³² A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”
   ³³ “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.
 ³⁴ Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers!

There are a couple things that I find particularly interesting about this passage.

First, Jesus' family stages an intervention, under the premise that he is "out of his mind." This is odd, because his mother, at least, knows that he is not exactly your average thirty-something man. In other places, you even see her asking Jesus to perform miracles, when he didn't want to yet--ie., turning water into wine at the wedding in Cana. But obviously, what Jesus is doing is making them very uncomfortable.

This is pure speculation, but I wonder if the "out of his mind" part had as much or more to do with the danger he was putting himself in by going against the grain of the established religious leaders of the day than with concerns about his mental stability. I mean, I can see how his brothers might think he was didelusional, but still--he was performing all these miracles, and doing all these amazing things. That's not delusion--that's reality.

And then there were the Pharisees, who insisted that he was doing all those miracles because he was possessed by the prince of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. No big surprise in their negative response. But the reason it's notable is because this is where that "blaspheming the Holy Spirit" passage comes up. People talk a lot about the "eternal sin" of "blaspheming the Holy Spirit," and I've known people who are afraid that they could somehow commit this "unforgivable sin" by accident.

But look at what is going on here. Jesus is God in the flesh, doing the Father's work through the power of the Holy Spirit. But the Pharisees are saying it's Satan at work. They are saying that God is Satan, that God is evil--they are blaspheming the Holy Spirit. And you can never seek God's forgiveness or accept his salvation when you are insisting that God is not God, that God is anything less than God.

Application: Don't try to squelch the work of the Holy Spirit (like Jesus' family was trying to do), even when it makes you uncomfortable, worried, or embarrassed. And don't malign God's work in the world, even when it makes you feel uncomfortable, threatened, or you don't like the people who are doing it.

Wow. I'm finding lots of application in Mark about how we should treat our brothers and sisters in Christ. Good stuff--but I guess this means I can't make fun of TBN, LOL! What if we used all the energy we spent bickering with other Christians trying to reach out to those who aren't? What a revolutionary concept!

Mark 3:7-19

Super-quick post today, because I've got to get to work. I'll comment this afternoon--until then, talk amongst yourselves. :-D

Mark 3:7-19 (New International Version, ©2010)

Crowds Follow Jesus

 ⁷ Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the lake, and a large crowd from Galilee followed. ⁸ When they heard about all he was doing, many people came to him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon. ⁹ Because of the crowd he told his disciples to have a small boat ready for him, to keep the people from crowding him. ¹⁰ For he had healed many, so that those with diseases were pushing forward to touch him. ¹¹ Whenever the impure spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” ¹² But he gave them strict orders not to tell others about him.

Jesus Appoints the Twelve

 ¹³ Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. ¹⁴ He appointed twelve^[a] that they might be with him and that he might send them out to preach ¹⁵ and to have authority to drive out demons. ¹⁶ These are the twelve he appointed: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter), ¹⁷ James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means “sons of thunder”), ¹⁸ Andrew, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus, Simon the Zealot ¹⁹ and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.