A Little Devotional

THE GOSPEL OF Mark (4)

    So, here I am, chamomile tea in hand (well, sitting on the table because I OBVIOUSLY can't be holding a coffee mug and typing at the same time unless I had a third arm or something...or unless it was in LEVI'S hand while he was letting me sip its hot goodness. lol) Anyways, do you know how you can read something hundreds of times and still get something different each time? Well, that's how the Word of God is. It is the same, but our revelations are continually waiting for us to see! Here are just some observations I made while reading this chapter. I was just too excited to keep these treasured nuggets to myself, so ENJOY if you can! (Hey, it's the Word...I hope you can. lol)

Vs. 1-20
Overview:
Jesus and His disciples just encountered a terrible storm at sea that almost sent them into the depths of the ocean had it not been for the remarkable power of Jesus to stop the wind and waves, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" They went to the other side of the sea to Geransenes where a demoniac lived and roamed among the tombs. This man was pure crazy. I can't misuse that word again. Anyone who LIVES in TOMBS, can break free from CHAINS and SHACKLES, screamed all the time, and cut himself....boy, that is insane! Please, I'll bury my deceased loved ones somewhere else ... we will creamate! anyways He encounters JESUS which will change His entire life and I'm pretty sure lives of many other people. Let's take a closer look:
(vs. 7-9) "...and shouting with a loud vice, he said 'What business do we have with each other Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, [do not torment me!]'"
Okay, wow. There is a lot in just this verse. First, a demon KNOWS who Jesus is (the Son of the Most High God). How come we still don't know who He is? Secondly, He was afraid. Even the demons tremble at the name of Jesus. Why? HE is HOLY! He is God. Third, He implored Him by God not to torment Him. I wonder what His idea of torment would have been? Jesus revealing truth to Him...being made to serve Jesus...I dunno but his fear is something to be grasped. I wonder how it will be for those who die and are not saved or those who vehemently denied Jesus as their Lord and Savior. How scared will they be on that day when Jesus asks them if He ever knew them? WOW. How heart-wrenching and heartbreaking is this revelation. All the more reason to share the Gospel.
     So, He cast out the "legion" of demons inside this man and they were sent into a herd of swine who rushed into the sea. The people, not interested in this man who was delivered inasmuch as their swine that just ran of the cliff. Wow. I know we worry about our lives but Jesus said we had to "lose our lives" if we want to save it...Profit over People. How interesting...still runs true today. WE aren't worried about them. We are worried about ourselves. Selfish fools we are!
     Then, this man wants to travel with Jesus and His disciples. I would too. THey are pretty cool and oh, the miracles they will get to see! But Jesus says instead,
"Go home to your people and report to them what great things the Lord has done for you and HOW He had MERCY on you." (19) And the man went away and told everyone what the Lord did for Him. I'm pretty sure many were saved! Hallelujah. Notice, we all have different functions, different roles...we all can't be in the front. We all can't try to do the same thing...nothing will get accomplished. GO! Just go. That's all we have to do. I personally have a lot to do in that area.
     Moving on to later in the chapter, it is the story of the woman with the issue of blood. This woman had been stricken with this disease for 12 long years. What a nightmare. Nothing worked. Noone could help her. None but Jesus. She knew that if ONLY she touched His garment, she would be healed. Now try to picture this, Jesus is rushing through a crowded street trying to save a young girl's life and He is sandwiched from people on every side and His disciples trying to get Him through the crowd. Fists, bows, and every body part is probably touching Him...but what did He say, "Who touched ME?" It's no wonder the disciples were a little confused. This woman hadn't even touched His body, just His robe! She didn't just touch that robe...she touched His soul. Not only did He feel that tug, He felt her- He was moved by the power of her faith. WOW! Only He truly knows the innermost parts of our being. She was healed. What hope we have in Jesus! Not that He will grant us healing from sickness or bless us with material possessions, or make life easy...He knows us. Kinda scary though, right? Wrong. If He knows us this well, it should be so easy for us to be transparent before Him. He can do anything and even if He doesn't, isn't the love enough for us to be propelled into love for Him and others? revelation. Truth is convicting. It breaks me. I'm thankful for this. Now I have some work to attend to. I hope you do too.

Tiiara