Author: Scott Lane

Re:Verse passage – Mark 3:1-12 (day five)

“They were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.”

We have another occurrence of the mounting tension between Jesus and the Pharisees. It seems relentless. We get a glimpse into their perspective.  They were looking for opportunities to accuse and confront Jesus. How did it come to this?  Why were they so unaware of who and what was going on?  They have completely lost perspective. The perspective of the law and subsequently the perspective of the mission and message of Jesus.

The Pharisees because of their inward and insecure focus, believed that the Law was designed and given to make men “like themselves”. When in actuality, the Law was given and designed to make man more like God- loving, serving, worshipping. As believers, the goal of the gospel- for us, for other believers, and for unbelievers is never to make others like us, but rather make them (and us) more like Jesus- the full and complete revelation of the living God.

Re:Verse passage – Mark 2:23-28 (day five) The Pharisees were saying to Him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”  This is the second “interaction” (in a row) that Jesus has with the religious leaders over legalism. Previously, Jesus was challenged over fasting.  In the Re:Verse passage this week He is confronted by them, about sabbath rules. Jesus both recognizes and chastises their legalism.  Jesus has strong words against legalism. Why?  Because legalism impairs a right relationship with God. Legalism causes humans to look at the shortcomings in the lives of others rather than in themselves. (Notice how external this is) Legalism promotes a man-centered righteousness rather than a Christ-centered righteousness. Legalism is dangerous and destructive.
We can/must look to Jesus to find righteousness and abundant life- not follow man-made rules. That is the gospel. That is good news.

Re:Verse passage – Mark 2:18-22 (day five) 

“Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them.”  What the Pharisees wanted and practiced (some scholars suggest they were fasting twice a week) was a religion that focused on their “actions, habits, and rituals”. It ignored or minimized the presence and fellowship of God (bridegroom).  It made much of themselves.

In contrast, Jesus was pointing them to His mission and ministry- a right relationship with God through the Son (New Testament bridegroom). Jesus was teaching that the goal of actions, habits, and rituals should be to grow, strengthen, and nurture our relationship with God. His nearness/presence and fellowship with Him through the Holy Spirit become reason for joy and celebration!!  It’s the reason we pray and fast- to be near/close.

I am Thine, O Lord, I have heard Thy voice,
And it told Thy love to me;
But I long to rise in the arms of faith
And be closer drawn to Thee.

Oh, the pure delight of a single hour That before Thy throne I spend, When I kneel in prayer, and with Thee, my God.
I commune as friend with friend!

Re:Verse passage – Mark 2:13-17 (day five)

“While Jesus was having dinner at Levi’s house, many tax collectors and sinners were eating with him and his disciples, for there were many who followed him.”

Levi’s reaction and response to having been called to follow Jesus was amazing. In the very next verse we read where he has been a catalyst for others to be in the presence of Jesus- eating dinner together at his house. Must have been an urgency and sincerity for Levi to leverage his relationships to influence them to be near Jesus and to hear the gospel.
Makes me search my own heart to check if I have that same urgency and influence for the gospel. Oh, that the Lord would continue to put people in my path and that I might be faithful to love with sincerity and influence with urgency for the gospel, that the Kingdom of God might grow in number and in strength. Levi’s reaction reminds me of the woman at the well in John 4. “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Many of the Samaritans from that town believed in him because of the woman’s testimony”.

May we love and influence others that way, too!!

Re:Verse passage – Mark 2:1-12 (day five).  And Jesus seeing their faith *said to the paralytic, “ Son, your sins are forgiven.”

It’s a beautiful picture. All 5 of these men have faith that was recognized by Jesus.  What was it that they believed?  I think they believed that Jesus could and would meet their friend’s deepest need. They were right, and they were wrong. They were right in the sense that Jesus could meet His deepest need. They were wrong in understanding what his deepest need actually was.  Jesus was very clear and understood completely what his biggest need actually was- the forgiveness of sin, to be in a right relationship with the Living God. Jesus at that moment looked past the circumstances and met the paralyzed man’s greatest need- forgiveness of Sin.

Will you ask Him to do the same for you?  Lord- Look past our circumstances and meet our greatest need!! (Help us be in a right relationship with You, Lord)

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:36-45 (day five)

“He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” Mark‬ ‭1:38‬

Jesus’ mission has been made clear from His first night as a human. “For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”  Would have been easy for Jesus to stay with the crowds and heal and minister. Yet, He keeps His mission clear (result of His prayer life- discipleship). There was a subtle but dangerous thing happening in the hearts of the people. They were beginning to seek the “hand” of Jesus rather than the “face” of Jesus. Leads to confusion of what our biggest need actually is. It’s why salvation and then regular repentance are so powerful. They keep us focused on our spiritual need. “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

We need, more than anything, a savior and a right relationship with the Living God.

This year, will you seek the Lord’s face rather than His hand?  Three ways that will help-  Repent Witness Disciple.

Happy New Year!!

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:21-35 (day five)“In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.” Mark‬ ‭1:35‬ ‭

It is an amazing picture. Jesus retreating from the crowds, the noise, the busyness in order to pray.  Jesus again, is modeling what obedience to God looks like- prioritizing time alone with His Heavenly Father. Just like in Mark 1, He would often leave those times in prayer with clarity and courage (reminds me of His time praying in the Garden of Gethsemane).  What Jesus knew, was that carving out or protecting time alone with God was invaluable. The disciples saw the  practice and the results. In fact, they asked Him to teach them how to pray.
Maybe that would be the best Christmas present we could discover- the desire and discipline to spend time alone with God in prayer. Anyone need clarity or courage?  “Lord, teach us to pray!!”

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:16-20 (day five) “Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭1:18‬.
None of us are very patient. (Standing in line at the grocery store- not fun.  Being placed on hold when trying to order or purchase something- bothersome. Waiting for a table at a restaurant- exasperating.)  Yet, often when we feel the prompting of the Spirit (witnessing opportunity, prayer moment with someone, serve or minister to others, giving resources to bless), we suddenly develop a sense of “unurgency”.  We feel the need to slow down- process, pray over, etc.
To be fair, there are moments and seasons when that is exactly what the Lord would have us do. “Test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” ‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:1‬ ‭ “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise… do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians‬ ‭5:15, 17‬.
To be honest, there are other moments when delayed obedience would be disobedience. “I hastened and did not delay to keep Your commandments.” Psalm 119:60 “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” Luke‬ ‭19:5

Walking in-step with the Spirit demands we obey- sometimes  with urgency and other times  with patience. Good News… God promises to help and guide us with direction and timing. 

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:9-15 (day five) “Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.
There are two Greek words Mark could have used for the word time- Chronos and Kairos. Same word in English, but they are different in Greek. Maybe a good distinction in English would be “historical” and “historic”. The meaning of Chronos is closer to historical- everything that takes place in space and time.  But not everything that happens is historic (kairos)- special and unique. Kairos is an important and momentous moment- time/life changing and altering.  Mark used Kairos. The gospel is Kairos.  Remember when the gospel came into your heart and life? (I do) It was “Kairos”. It was life changing and life altering. Through repentance and faith (believing) my priorities, thinking, behaviors, loyalties, all changed and are changing- reshaped and are reshaping – … Kairos.  That is the influence and power of the gospel-Life changing. This is the good news we must share with others. The gospel is life changing!!

Re:Verse passage – Mark 1:1-8 (day five) “And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I”.

John the Baptist is countercultural. From Mark’s writing, it’s fairly easy to see and recognize.  The clothes (camel hair).  The diet (locusts). The setting for his ministry (wilderness). His message (repentance). There is one more countercultural aspect of John that caught my heart and mind.  His perspective.  Let me explain.

I have spent over 30 years in youth ministry. As I have taught and counseled teenagers, there have been themes that have consistently bubbled up.  One of those was to press back against instant gratification. Think longer and deeper about mission, priorities, actions, and purpose. The phrase I used was to think, act, and plan “eternally”. As I watched them grow up and move into adulthood, I’ve come to believe is that instant gratification is not just a youth problem. It’s a human heart problem. Yet in Mark chapter one, we find a man in his 30’s who doesn’t seem to have this problem. “After me”.  Faith, ministry, and the purposes of God are wiser, deeper, and longer than ME. This eternal perspective changes everything.  The way we encourage and challenge others. The way we witness. The way we parent. The way we serve. The way we love.
We would all do well to think about eternal things with eternal timing in mind. John the Baptist did.