Be Still…

Read Mark 2:18-28

Fasting and Sabbath are two distinct disciplines, yet they can also be intertwined. I’m not going to lie – the first section in today’s reading on fasting left me a bit perplexed. How about you? Did you get a good understanding of the message here? I’d welcome your insights in the comments.

Let’s look at each discipline, starting with fasting. It seems as if fasting was a commonplace thing here, but in our day, it’s practice is farm from common. Jesus is not saying here NOT to fast. To the contrary. Jesus just wanted his disciples to be in a place of rejoicing while they were with Jesus, for their time was short.

How then do we relate this joy to old and new cloth and old and new wine? Again, I’d welcome your thoughts. I suppose if we think about how Jesus is ushering in the new covenant. The newness of life in Christ has made us new beings. Jesus has brought the bridge to our relationship with God, and all things are new. It is more important to embrace the new, leaving the old to be old. As with a ripped pair of jeans. To patch them, or put a bandaid on the problem, does not last and the patch will be ripped away. Likewise, new wine in old wineskin is said to burst the wineskin. While I don’t have first hand experience with this, I trust Jesus’ words.

We need to embrace our new life and new way of thinking. Jesus has come to give us that new reality. We now have access to God the Father like never before. When we fast now, it is simply to remove that which is keeping us from focusing on God and listening for his voice. We can fast from food (or preparation thereof), television, communication with the outside world. When we fast, we close out all distractions.

As far as Sabbath – I could talk on this for a long time. We will see time and again where Jesus does something on the Sabbath. For the Jews, the Sabbath was holy and no work was to be done. You’ll see time and again where Jesus “works” on the Sabbath and what a stir that causes.

Here, Jesus explains, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!” If we look back to the creation, God rested on the 7th day. You’ll recall one of the Ten Commandments is to remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.

So what is Sabbath to you? Do you have one day a week that is devoted entirely to worshiping and communing with God? I’m afraid this, like fasting, is a discipline not practiced by the majority. Some people have shortened their Sabbath to fit their lifestyle and assigned half a day to spend with God. The important thing is that we do have those special, intentional times set aside for our Creator and King. He deserves it, and so much more!

We can intertwine the two, fasting and Sabbath, when we close out the distractions of food, drink, etc. only to focus totally on God. This is a private thing between you and God, not to be flaunted about. In these times of devotion, you will be enlightened and blessed in ways you can only imagine. We truly REST in him.

We may be using these disciplines to meet our needs, but we are certainly blessing the heart of God.

Let’s pray. Father forgive me for my busyness. Thank you that you are helping me manage my time better so that spending time with you can be a regular thing. Calm my heart so that I can close out all the temptations and distractions that scream for my attention. I want to be totally devoted to you, listening for you to speak to me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Read Mark 2:1-12

There is so much going on in this passage, I don’t know where to begin. I love how Mark uses words here to help us picture the scene. We can almost insert ourselves right along with the paralytic at the feet of Jesus.

Word has definitely spread about Jesus and the miracles he has been doing. Did you notice what happens in this account? We are expecting him to tell the paralyzed man to get up and walk, to pronounce the healing. What does Jesus do instead? He tells the man his sins are forgiven.

I didn’t see that coming, did you? What do this man’s sins have to do with him being paralyzed? Have you ever thought about that? I imagine a hush went over the room at his words. The teachers of law that were present probably exchanged a knowing glance. Jesus was fully aware of the situation. Of course he was. Jesus used this as a teachable moment to show his authority.

And then, as expected, Jesus tells the man to get up and go home. The man leaves as he is instructed. How did the man feel? Was his gratitude overflowing? We read that he “jumped up”. That sounds pretty ecstatic to me. He, like the crowd, was likely stunned and amazed. Do you think he expected healing?

Think back a moment to the four men that brought this paralyzed man to Jesus in the first place. This is a miracle in itself to have maneuvered him to the roof, digging a hole big enough in the thatched roof, and having the tools, rope or whatever, to lower him down at just the right spot. This didn’t “just happen”. There was thought, intention and strong faith inspiring these men. They were no doubt friends of the paralyzed man. There was a lot of caring going on. Was there anticipation? What about adrenaline? Do you suppose fear? And, after it was all over, who was going to repair the roof for heavens sake?

I may often let myself get caught up in details. I shouldn’t let myself be paralyzed by wanting to know all the facts. I need to walk by faith and be confident that God is going to show up. Just as these men were confident and driven by their faith. That is the message I need to hear today.

What spoke most to you? Reflect on that message today.

Let’s pray. Lord, I thank you that you are the one in control of my life. Forgive me when I forget and push forward on my own. Thank you that you are calming my spirit to not need to know every detail, every answer, every truth. I put my trust in you and your provision. May my faith heal me and make me whole. May my faith be large like the men in our passage today. No obstacle is too big. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

 

Read Mark 1:21-28

This must have been quite a scene. What strikes me most is how Jesus handled the disruption, yet we can’t overlook what was disrupted. Jesus was teaching. It was not just another ho-hum day at the synagogue. Jesus was preaching with authority.

We hear those words, teaching with authority, and we may want to gloss over them to get to the juicy part of the passage. That would be a mistake. Take a moment to imagine how Jesus would preach. What would it be like to hear a sermon coming directly from God? To hear Jesus preach is to hear the words of Scripture come alive. Jesus was God, and who better to help us understand the meaning and significance of Scripture. It says the people were amazed. This was good stuff!

Have you ever heard a sermon that rocked your world? I don’t know how many times I’ve felt like my husband (a pastor) was speaking right to me. Over the years, I’ve heard many people tell him that very thing. It’s in those instances I am certain God has been using him to pass on the message someone needed to hear. In our reading today, it was God, himself, bringing authority and passion to the people.

I picture the people hanging on to every word that Jesus was teaching. I certainly would be. They didn’t know who they were listening to. But the possessed man did. The evil spirit inside the man was trembling in Jesus’ presence. The encounter did not surprise Jesus. He didn’t skip a beat when he spoke the command, “Be quiet! Come out of the man.” Jesus knew he was speaking to an evil spirit. He was going to use this disruption, and the people witnessed a miracle.

We don’t know how long this man had been afflicted, nor do we know if he was even aware of his possession. Those details aren’t important here. But evil knew that Jesus was the “Holy One of God.” Evil did not win.

This is one passage that really hits home for me when I think about what I believe. Many people say, “I believe in God.” That’s a wonderful thing, but even the evil spirits believe in God. I want my faith to go deeper. I want a relationship with the God who created me, the God who saved me, the God who is living inside me giving me power.

How about you? What do you believe? Are you like the possessed man, recognizing there is a God? Do you want to know that God more intimately, too? What evil spirits are working in you to keep you from this relationship?

Let’s pray. Father God thank you for making me the person  I am. It is such an honor to be your child. Forgive me when I let the distractions of this world keep me separated from you. Spending time with you makes me happy, and I want that blessing for everyone. I know your heart longs for relationship with all your children. Use me to bring that awareness of your love and authority to others. I am listening for your voice. In Jesus’ name. Amen.