Author: Larry Soape

Re: Verse reading–Mark 15:33-41; 16:1-8 (day four)

V.16 – “When the Sabbath was over…”

Mary Magdalene, Mary, and Salome were observing the Sabbath rules.  These were the principles that the religious leaders, who had just crucified Jesus, had so distorted and misused.  Have you ever known someone who rejected the church, saying, “They are just a bunch of hypocrites there”?  They are rejecting an institution established by God because of the failure of men.  These ladies maintained their obedience to God’s laws and were not distracted to disobedience by the sins of men.

Are we guilty of rejecting God’s Word because we see someone else’s distortion of the Truth?  Do we allow the focus of our heart to be sidetracked because of the sinfulness of others?  These ladies obeyed God’s laws even when it was not represented well by the very ones that should be their leaders in faith.  Keep the eyes of your heart on God and His Word…don’t be led to disobedience by the faithlessness of others.

Re: Verse reading–Mark 14:43-52; 15:1-15 (day four)

These words could define all of Jesus’ life…”but this has taken place in order to fulfill Scriptures.” (v. 49)  There had be ample opportunity to have arrested Him earlier and the religious leaders thought they had made their own careful, precise plans, but prophets had prophesized long before that these events would take place.  In Psalms, Isaiah, Zechariah and even by Jesus Himself, the actions of the leaders were foretold.  God was in complete control of history…it all happened according to His vast plan.

Have you ever felt that your life was out of control?  Events were happening that you could not understand or change?  As we become more like Jesus, we can begin to recognize God at work.  A Christian worldview gives a completely different perspective of world events than you will hear on the news.  Filtering events through the lens of Scripture brings new focus and understanding.  Maybe we can come to the point of saying with Jesus…”but this has taken place in order to fulfill Scriptures!”

Re:Verse reading–Mark 14:12-31 (day four)

It was an ancient Jewish festival…Pesach was a spring festival associated with the season of grain harvest.  In the course of time, the life of the Jews changed and the festival took on new meanings and new significances.  During the period of the exodus, Pesach, or Passover as it was reinterpreted, became associated with the deliverance from Egypt.  Now, in celebrating the Passover with His disciples, Jesus attaches a new meaning and significance to the celebration.  It has become what believers now know as the Lord’s Supper…remembering His death and sacrifice made for men and women.

Has your life had periods of new meaning and significance to old experiences?  Have you grown in your relationship with Christ?  Life is not intended to remain stagnant…there is constant growth.  Seek the Lord daily for wisdom and direction.  The living Word of God and the Spirit of God will open new understanding…the application of His Truth to your life will bring new significance…the realization of God’s promises will bring great joy!

Re: Verse reading–Mark 11:12-33 (day four)               

“My House shall be called a House of Prayer for all the nations.” (Isaiah 56:7)  What exactly did Jesus mean?  Israel had always considered God to be their own private, personal God…they did not want to share Him with anyone outside the nation of Israel.  In Isaiah 56, the prophet taught that the temple should be open for all people.  There were no temples to worship God anywhere except Israel, so a foreigner had to travel to Israel, from wherever in the world, just to have a place to worship God.  (And we worry about people having to drive downtown to worship together!)  When Jesus entered the Temple and saw all of the animals for sale and the ‘religious vendors’ selling their goods, He recognized that no one could worship and pray and praise God in this environment.  Israel was supposed to be God’s lighthouse…a place where the world could see God for who He was.  At the crossroads of the world and possessing the presence of God in their midst, Israel sought personal gain over faithful obedience.

When was the last time we asked God to examine our lives?  Do we offer “all the peoples” an opportunity to know God?  Is our ‘Temple’ cleansed for worship?

Re: Verse reading–Mark 10: 32-45 (day four)

They had been picked to be in the top three…James and John had accompanied Jesus to the mount of Transfiguration.  Of course, Peter was there too, but he had, as usual, blurted out the wrong thing.  He was too impetuous to be a true leader…they were the obvious pick.  So they approached the Master.  Jesus said they had no idea what they were asking…besides, it was not His choice…the positions would be filled by the ones for whom it had been prepared.

James and John really didn’t understand…they did not have a grasp of what following Jesus really meant.  Jesus knew.  V. 45 could be a theme verse for the book of Mark:  “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many.”  Jesus knew what His mission was.  Like the sons of Thunder, we have to understand why Jesus came.  It is not about us and what is in it for us…we are to serve others in Jesus’ name and lead them to Christ.  Is there somewhere you can volunteer?

Re:Verse reading–Mark 9:14-29 (day four) 

Jesus had given the disciples authority over the demons.  It should have worked…they should have been able to cast out the demon from the boy!  What was the difference?  Why couldn’t they do it?  This was embarrassing.  Jesus said it was their lack of faith.  “These only come out by prayer.”

Before, Jesus was always there or had empowered them and sent them out.  This time He was meeting with Elijah and Moses on the mountain.  The disciples thought they could do it on their own.

Each of us faces one or several times in our life that we realize that our faith must be our own.  We can’t work on the faith of our parents, or our spouse, or our Sunday School teacher, or our friend.  Our faith must be our own.  To face the tough challenges of our spiritual walk, our faith must be based on our personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  To receive salvation, it must be our repentance…our belief…our faith.  Do you believe?

Re:Verse reading–Mark 8:27-38 (day four)

V. 27 – “Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned his disciples,”

In this chapter, Jesus begins to focus on His disciples.  V. 27 says “and on the way…”  Jesus was the model teacher.  He took every opportunity to teach God’s ways.  Often, we get so busy getting from one place to another, or from one job to the next, that we forget to model and teach those around us God’s Word.  Jesus was investing His teaching in those who would carry on His message after He was gone.

We are called to do the same.  We are to train the next generations to love God, to know His Word, to be faithful and obedient, and to serve God with a whole heart.  If we want our children and grandchildren to walk in a manner worthy of God, then we must train them. It will not happen by accident.  On the way…teach and train!