Category: reMARKable

Re:Verse passage – Mark 6:1-6 (day four)

There are two stories in the gospels that tell us Jesus “marveled” at something. Your translation might say “wondered” –  either way, this phrase is meant to portray amazement over something. In our text in Mark, Jesus marvels at the unbelief of the people who “knew him when.” He is amazed at their lack of faith, and that these of all people would sit in the seat of scoffers.

The other story where we see this phrase is with the centurion in Matthew 8 and Luke 7. Though he’s an unlikely candidate for following Jesus, the centurion shows such great confidence of faith that Jesus marvels at him. He marvels over the lack of faith in places where it should be plentiful, and over the greatness of faith in places where it is uncommon.

The idea that Jesus, who is fully man but also fully God, would marvel at anything is amazing. He marvels over that which is important to him. These stories give us two options for how we can respond to Jesus. Will we join the prideful row of scoffers? Or will we give him the full confidence of our faith?

Re:Verse passage – Mark 6:1-6 (day three)

“Is not this the carpenter…?”

There’s an exotic allure in someone strange from somewhere else promising something new. But Jesus presented as just Jesus from the other end of the village. The people wanted Messiah to come as a conquering hero wielding a sword. What they got was a Nazarene wielding a try square. To this crowd, it felt like an insult. Everyone in the town had lived close to him and his family since they’d returned from Egypt years ago. How could the people not already know everything he knew? Yet the folks couldn’t quite catch on to what he was saying, which they found all the more annoying. Was he talking down to them? Was he disrespecting his roots? Was he rabble rousing? Whenever God has acted in the world, it’s always been difficult to take in. It still is.

Re:Verse passage – Mark 6:1-6 (day two) 

When the Sabbath came, He began to teach in the synagogue… v. 2a

I love this picture of Jesus. It’s one that we don’t often see portrayed. If you think a scene with Jesus, you are likely picturing him at the seashore, in a boat, feeding thousands, or performing a miracle. I don’t want us to miss this picture of Jesus in worship. Most of Jesus’ life, like ours, is spent outside the walls of the church. Much of what Jesus was here to do was to seek and save that which was last. Our call is the same. Living on mission is what we want for every believer. Jesus also made a priority of regular worship on the Sabbath. He gathered with others who wrestled with scripture, and share wisdom to help others understand the mysteries of faith. Gathered worship is a privilege and responsibility for every believer. We gather, first, to honor God. In so doing, we build and edify the church. We are better believers when we faithfully and actively attend worship. By honoring the Lord, and strengthening the body we become better equipped to be on mission outside the walls of the church. See you Sunday.

Re:Verse passage – Mark 5:21-34 (day seven)

I am reading through the Bible in one year. As I trudge through this season (currently in Numbers) reading laws upon laws, what stands out to me is that God is taking care of His people. Many of the laws that God inspired in ancient Israel, especially concerning medical practices, were to protect the people from spreading sickness and disease amongst the camp. God was teaching Israel how to take care of themselves with a knowledge far beyond scientific understanding of its time!

However, an unfortunate outcome of these laws came to light in the passage this week. By these laws, this woman was outcast from society. By law, she had lost her home, her family, her finances, and even her community. By law, whoever she touched would be unclean… including Jesus…

“But God, being rich in mercy” continues to protect His people using power that supersedes medical practices.The touch that was supposed to make Him unclean is the very touch that Jesus used to restore this woman. Same God and same power, but instead of the power being instituted by law, it is brought into action by grace through faith. By grace this woman was saved through her faith. By grace Jesus can make you clean too. Will you bring His power to action through your faith?

Re:Verse passage – Mark 5:21-34 (day six)

Mark presents a series of back-to-back miracles, each revealing a different aspect of Jesus’ power. His primary goal is clear: to introduce his readers to Jesus—the one who commands creation, casts out demons, heals the sick, and raises the dead. Who wouldn’t want to follow Him?

Beyond this, Mark has a secondary objective. Each miracle serves as a real-life illustration of the parable of the soils. In every scene, the crowd is contrasted with the one(s) who has faith, and in most cases, we see the fruit of that faith. Mark emphasizes that while the Kingdom of God is available to all, only a few are truly ready to receive it by faith—the kind of faith that produces lasting fruit.

Once again, Mark challenges us to reflect: Is the soil of our lives bearing the fruit of faith in Christ?

Re:Verse passage – Mark 5:21-34 (day five)

And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction.”

What an amazing moment for this woman. Suddenly she feels strength, power, hope, and joy. Having cloaked herself in the crowd from all kinds of emotions (mainly fear) she then comes forward. She finally feels safe. Something deeper and eternal is happening in her heart. There is trust and honesty. She tells Jesus “the whole truth”. Her story and experiences now are being used to point to the power and love of Christ. Just like the woman at the well. There is relationship- “daughter”. And there is peace. Peace with God. Peace with others. Peace inside her own heart and mind. Peace with who she really is and who she can become. Tell your Heavenly Father the “whole truth” and find that kind of peace!!

Re:Verse passage – Mark 5:21-34 (day four)

Scripture tells of Jesus doing so many miracles, that the reader might mistakenly conclude that they were effortless for him, or that he was just performing miracles right and left. We, in our human thinking, focus on the miracle itself, but this story reminds us that performing miracles was not Jesus’ primary concern.

My favorite professor at Baylor would often repeat, “It’s never about the miracle, but about the message.” This story of the bleeding woman is a perfect example of this. If it were simply about the miracle, Jesus would have perceived that power had left him and kept right on walking – unconcerned with who he had healed. The miracle would still have occurred and the women would have received what she needed. But it’s not about the miracle.

Jesus stopped, intent on finding the person who had been healed. He had something even greater to offer than physical healing – a loving, redeeming relationship with the God of the universe. He ministered to this woman who had lost everything, bringing her into the family of God by calling her “daughter.” Jesus gave her the miracle, but he also gave her the message – the good news of salvation. Miracles are beautiful, but they’re always meant to be a sign that points to the message. The message is this: the Kingdom of God is at hand.

 

Re:Verse passage – Mark 5:21-34 (day three)

“A woman who had had a hemorrhage for twelve years, and had endured much at the hands of many physicians, and had spent all that she had and was not helped at all, but rather had grown worse…”

Not only did this woman suffer from severe anemia, but also from violations of her bodily autonomy and privacy by men hawking various purported cures. In addition to that ignominy, the repetition of useless curative attempts had siphoned away hope, leaving her weaker and more poverty-stricken than ever before. She wasn’t just bleeding, but humiliated, shamed, exploited, poor, and neglected after her encounters with every alleged healer for over a decade. No wonder she wanted anonymity. The Lord’s mercy allowed her that dignity. Only after curing her body did Jesus inquire about her identity and restore her self-worth by addressing her as “daughter.”

Re:Verse passage – Mark 5:21-34 (day two)

For she thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” v. 28

It would be easy to read this story and think the woman was so desperate she was willing to try anything. Indeed, she had trusted doctors, healers, and all sorts of remedies, but this wasn’t the act of ‘let’s try one more thing’ thinking. All of the other remedies and treatments were simply part of a timeline toward an encounter with Jesus. It does make her story more dramatic, yes, but I have known people who have the exact opposite response after a years of being sick. I have seen them resign themselves to whatever is next. It is a defense mechanism against another disappointment. This woman’s actions were so focused on Jesus, she knew that touching him would heal her. That is the faith that Jesus acknowledged. Don’t expect Jesus to be a last resort for you or someone else in a time of hurt or loss. Regardless of your circumstances and how you got there, when it is time to encounter Jesus, do it like this woman: fully commit. The time for doubt, fear, and hesitation are behind. It is now time for healing and wholeness. It is time to touch the savior.