BEGGING JESUS

MUSINGS - October 08 2018

BEGGING JESUS

Mark 5:21-24
Jesus again crossed to the other side of the Sea of Galilee in a boat. A large crowd gathered around him by the seashore. A synagogue leader named Jairus also arrived. When he saw Jesus, he quickly bowed down in front of him. He begged Jesus, "My little daughter is dying. Come, lay your hands on her so that she may get well and live." Jesus went with the man. A huge crowd followed Jesus and pressed him on every side.

(I'm skipping over a few verses. We'll get to those tomorrow.)

Mark 5:35-43
While Jesus was still speaking to her, some people came from the synagogue leader's home. They told the synagogue leader, "Your daughter has died. Why bother the teacher anymore?" When Jesus overheard what they said, he told the synagogue leader, "Don't be afraid! Just believe." Jesus allowed no one to go with him except Peter and the two brothers James and John. When they came to the home of the synagogue leader, Jesus saw a noisy crowd there. People were crying and sobbing loudly. When he came into the house, he asked them, "Why are you making so much noise and crying? The child isn't dead. She's just sleeping." They laughed at him. So he made all of them go outside. Then he took the child's father, mother, and his three disciples and went to the child. Jesus took the child's hand and said to her, "Talitha, koum!" which means, "Little girl, I'm telling you to get up!" The girl got up at once and started to walk. (She was twelve years old.) They were astonished. Jesus ordered them not to let anyone know about this. He also told them to give the little girl something to eat.

Because we so often read of Jesus's confrontations with the religious leaders in Jerusalem, we can get the scewed perspective that all the leaders hatred Jesus. This is not true. He often spoke in the synagogues as he traveled around the country.
Here we see Jairus, a leader in the local synagogue, in the midst of a large crowd, come and fall at Jesus feet. Here was a man of importance but he did not come to Jesus demanding special attention because of his position. No, he came humbling himself and begging. His twelve year old daughter was gravely ill.

Her age is recorded here because it was important. If she were younger than twelve, she would not be accountable for her actions under the Law of Moses. At age twelve she becomes responsible for any sins she may have committed. So, Jairus was not just begging for his daughters life but also her soul.

When word comes that she had died, it is too late for the physician, the healer. It is impossible to heal the dead. But Jesus is not a doctor. He is God the Son to whom nothing is impossible.

Many thing in life are impossible in the natural order of things. However, if it be God's good will, His supernatural power can make them possible. If we humble ourselves and fall at his feet begging, we may see a miracle, if our will and His will are aligned. (James 4:2-3)

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All content (except quotations) © 201p Thomas E. Williams

AMAZING GROWTH

MUSINGS - October 05 Friday 2018

AMAZING GROWTH

Mark 4:30-34
Jesus asked, "How can we show what the kingdom of God is like? To what can we compare it? It's like a mustard seed planted in the ground. The mustard seed is one of the smallest seeds on earth. However, when planted, it comes up and becomes taller than all the garden plants. It grows such large branches that birds can nest in its shade." Jesus spoke God's word to them using many illustrations like these. In this way people could understand what he taught. He did not speak to them without using an illustration. But when he was alone with his disciples, he explained everything to them.

Cottonwood trees* are abunant near our summer home in Iowa. I've often thought that, if they had grown in the Holy Land, how much better they would have been in place of the mustard plant.

But, of course, the story isn't about mustard seeds. It is about the kingdom of God. Jesus asks the question as to himself wondering how he who has seen the beginning, the present, and the end** is going to explain the concept of how the kingdom of God will grow on the Earth. He gives them the example of one of the smallest seeds (the original twelve followers) can grow into something huge (an estimated 300,000,000 Christians in the world today. This is the kingdom today. What can it still become in a world of over 7 billion people? The answer is it's up to us, you and me, to keep planting, watering, and nourishing the every growing kingdom of God

.

*Cottonwood trees are the fastest growing trees in North America. A young tree can add 6 feet or more in height each year. This rapid growth leads to weak wood that is easily damaged. The trees can grow to well over 100 feet tall, with eastern species sometimes reaching 190 feet. And it takes nearly 400,000 seeds to make a pound and only 280,000 musterd seeds to a pound.

** Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. And Revelation of John 22:12-13 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

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All content (except quotations) © 2018 Thomas E. Williams

MASTER OF THE SEA

MUSINGS - October 06 2018

MASTER OF THE SEA

Mark 4:35-41
That evening, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's cross to the other side." Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus along in a boat just as he was. Other boats were with him. A violent windstorm came up. The waves were breaking into the boat so that it was quickly filling up. But he was sleeping on a cushion in the back of the boat. So they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care that we're going to die?" Then he got up, ordered the wind to stop, and said to the sea, "Be still, absolutely still!" The wind stopped blowing, and the sea became very calm. He asked them, "Why are you such cowards? Don't you have any faith yet?" They were overcome with fear and asked each other, "Who is this man? Even the wind and the sea obey him!"
Squire Enos Parsons Jr. wrote a gosple song, based on this scripture passage. In it he answers the question that the disciple asked, "Who is this man?" He is the "Master of the Sea,"*

The disciples did not yet fully understand why was in their boat with them. For he is more than master of the sea, he aker of the sea.** Of course he could calm the sea with a word because he is the Word made flesh. (John 1:14)

The author of John's gosple was well aware of this traditional Jewish understanding of the Messiah Memra--the Word of Yahweh. Within the Old Testament, many times it is said that work done by the Lord was done by that Word of the Lord, whom we call Jesus the Christ our Lord.

I'm so glad that Parsons wrote, "Though the storms of life may rage
Mighty billows round you roll
Then He can calm life's troubled sea
Oh as He did in days of old."

When the storms of life rage in your life, take heart that the Master has promised "I am always with you until the end of time." (Matthew 28:20)

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All content (except quotations) © 2018 Thomas E. Williams

*Master of the Sea
One night upon the sea
A ship was tossing to and fro
Breakers dashed on every hand
Angry winds around did blow
All on board were filled with fright
As the mighty billows rolled
Then they called upon the one
Who the winds and waves controlled
Chorus
When He reaches out His hand
Billows cease at His command (His command)
Winds and waves obey His will
When He says to them be still
What man is this they all did say (They did say)
That the winds and sea obey (sea obey)
He's the one who sails with me
Oh He's still the Master of the sea (of the sea)
Though the storms of life may rage
Mighty billows round you roll
Then He can calm life's troubled sea
Oh as He did in days of old
And as upon life's sea you sail
Why don't you trust in Him who's never ever failed
I'm so glad He sails with me
Oh He's still the Master of the sea
Chorus
Tag:
I'm so glad He sails with me
He's the Master of the sea.

**Genesis 1:1-2
In the beginning God created heaven and earth. The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep water. The Spirit of God was hovering over the water.

And

John 1:1-3
In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was already with God in the beginning. Everything came into existence through him. Not one thing that exists was made without him.

PAY ATTENTION

MUSINGS - October 04 2018

PAY ATTENTION

Mark 4:24-29
He went on to say, "Pay attention to what you're listening to! Knowledge will be measured out to you by the measure of attention you give. This is the way knowledge increases. Those who understand these mysteries will be given more knowledge. However, some people don't understand these mysteries. Even what they understand will be taken away from them." Jesus said, "The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seeds on the ground. He sleeps at night and is awake during the day. The seeds sprout and grow, although the man doesn't know how. The ground produces grain by itself. First the green blade appears, then the head, then the head full of grain. As soon as the grain is ready, he cuts it with a sickle, because harvest time has come."

There is something that I believe and I've tried to teach my children: Everything is easy if you know the answer. It is such a simple and at the sametime profound truth. For almost everything in this life there is an answer. Sometimes the answer is discovered easily and sometimes it may take years to uncover the right answer.

Pay attention to what you're listening to! Knowledge will be measured out to you by the measure of attention you give. This is the way knowledge increases.

The more you question, the more answers you seek, the more you pay attention, the more you learn.

The Bible isn't a story book. It is an owner's manual, an instruction book for understanding God, others, and yourself. Many people ask, what is the meaning of life? What's my purpose? They ask but fail to pay attention, to actively seek the answers in The Book.

Become a student of the Bible.

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All content (except quotations) © 2018 Thomas E. Williams

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE

MUSINGS - October 03 2018

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE

Mark 4:21-23
Jesus said to them, "Does anyone bring a lamp into a room to put it under a basket or under a bed? Isn't it put on a lamp stand? There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed. There is nothing kept secret that will not come to light. Let the person who has ears listen!"

Matthew 5:14-16
"You are light for the world. A city cannot be hidden when it is located on a hill. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket. Instead, everyone who lights a lamp puts it on a lamp stand. Then its light shines on everyone in the house. In the same way let your light shine in front of people. Then they will see the good that you do and praise your Father in heaven.

Mark and Matthew may be discribing the same event or perhaps Jesus used the same illustration at different times to a different crowd. In any case the message is clear, let your light shine.

Though the analogy seems totally different than Jesus' story about the farmer scattering seed, in both cases he requires us to share what we have. Seed and light are both symbols of the gospel.

Are you hiding your light? Have you lifted it high so that it will reach further into the darkness?

Let it shine! Let it shine! Let it shine!

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All content (except quotations) © 2018 Thomas E. Williams

IF YOU HAVE EARS, LISTEN

MUSINGS - October 02 2018

. IF YOU HAVE EARS, LISTEN

Mark 4:1-20
Jesus began to teach again by the Sea of Galilee. A very large crowd gathered around him, so he got into a boat and sat in it. The boat was in the water while the entire crowd lined the shore. He used stories as illustrations to teach them many things. While he was teaching them, he said, "Listen! A farmer went to plant seed. Some seeds were planted along the road, and birds came and devoured them. Other seeds were planted on rocky ground, where there wasn't much soil. The plants sprouted quickly because the soil wasn't deep. When the sun came up, they were scorched. They didn't have any roots, so they withered. Other seeds were planted among thornbushes. The thornbushes grew up and choked them, and they didn't produce anything. But other seeds were planted on good ground, sprouted, and produced thirty, sixty, or one hundred times as much as was planted." He added, "Let the person who has ears listen!" When he was alone with his followers and the twelve apostles, they asked him about the stories. Jesus replied to them, "The mystery about the kingdom of God has been given directly to you. To those on the outside, it is given in stories: 'They see clearly but don't perceive. They hear clearly but don't understand. They never return to me and are never forgiven.'" Jesus asked them, "Don't you understand this story? How, then, will you understand any of the stories I use as illustrations? "The farmer plants the word. Some people are like seeds that were planted along the road. Whenever they hear the word, Satan comes at once and takes away the word that was planted in them. Other people are like seeds that were planted on rocky ground. Whenever they hear the word, they accept it at once with joy. But they don't develop any roots. They last for a short time. When suffering or persecution comes along because of the word, they immediately fall from faith. Other people are like seeds planted among thornbushes. They hear the word, but the worries of life, the deceitful pleasures of riches, and the desires for other things take over. They choke the word so that it can't produce anything. Others are like seeds planted on good ground. They hear the word, accept it, and produce crops--thirty, sixty, or one hundred times as much as was planted."

Teacher, tell us about the kingdom of God! There was a great crowd following Jesus. He told them a story about themselves and said. "Let the person who has ears listen!"

There were many who came to the seashore and each had their own reason for being there. Some came for the show, seeking nothing more than to be entertained. Some came as though to a doctor, looking to be cured. Some came out of curiosity, they saw a crowd and wondered what was going on, There were those who came to see the celebraty of the day. Some came for the teaching, seeking understanding.

Jesus looked into the hearts and minds of these people and cast his words as a farmer spreads seeds. He knew the odds of getting a return on his investment just as a farmer calculates the expenses versus the potential profit. He was looking for those who hear the word, accept it, and produce crops

Many things have changed in the thousands of years since God walked the world in the body of a man. Printig presses, radio, telivision, world wide internet, cell phones, and other advances have given us the ability to spread the seed into far flung fields. But now as then Jesus is not so much seeking a harvest as he is training Farmers.

Pick up your Bible. Read it. Study it. Be filled with it. Let the words of life grow and mature in you. Then gather your harvest and spread those seeds.

If you have ears, listen. If you have eyes, see. If you have a mouth, speak.

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All content (except quotations) © 2018 Thomas E. Williams

FAMILY TIES

MUSINGS - October 01 2018

FAMILY TIES

Mark 3:31-35
Then his mother and his brothers arrived. They stood outside and sent someone to ask him to come out. The crowd sitting around Jesus told him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside looking for you