Mark 8:1

Mark 8:1 says. In those days the multitude being very great, and having nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples unto him, and saith unto them, A crowd was following Him for three days with nothing to eat.  We often have a hard time getting people to come to church for an hour or two, even if they are well fed.  We need to desire to follow Jesus just as strongly. Verse two adds, I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now been with me three days, and have nothing to eat: Verse three continues, And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far. We see that Jesus had compassion on them, fearing they would faint if they didn't get something to eat before He sent them away to their own houses, and He still has compassion on us today.  I believe we too often leave a worship service spiritually starving, and all the time Jesus waits ready to fill us. Verse four states, And his disciples answered him, From whence can a man satisfy these men with bread here in the wilderness?  The disciples wondered where they could get food to feed the multitude in the desert, and if we are not living by faith instead of sight, we may often doubt that we can do what God calls us to do.  Verse five adds, And he asked them, How many loaves have ye? And they said, Seven.  Jesus asked the disciples how many loaves they had, and they said seven.  All we can do is to bring to Jesus what we have and then let Him use it as He sees fit.  We too often look at what we have and think what about me if I share it, but maybe we need to try to out give God.  Verse six says, And he commanded the people to sit down on the ground: and he took the seven loaves, and gave thanks, and brake, and gave to his disciples to set before them; and they did set them before the people. Jesus had the people sit, blessed the bread, and had the disciples pass it out to the people.  The disciples might have had doubts, but they did as Jesus instructed them to do, and so must we as Christians.  Verse seven adds, And they had a few small fishes: and he blessed, and commanded to set them also before them.  The disciples also had a few small fish, which Jesus blessed, and had the disciples pass out to the people.  Verse eight continues, So they did eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets.  The people were all filled and there were seven baskets of food left over.  They were unable to out give Jesus, and neither can we.  Had they refused to give up what they had, it would have soon been used up, but instead they ended up with so much more.  I believe we often end up with seven loaves and a few fish because we think we cannot give up what we have, instead of ending up with seven baskets full because we gave all we had to God.  Verse nine concludes, And they that had eaten were about four thousand: and he sent them away.  This time, there were about four thousand men who were fed, but the number was never important.  They would all have been fed regardless of the number.  Of course, in order to be a part of this miracle, the people had to be following Jesus, and so must we if we expect a miracle in our life. 

Mark 7:14

Mark 7:14 says, And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: Jesus called all the people to Him.  He didn't call just those of a certain faith, nationality, or race, but all people, and He still does today.  If we begin to think that we are somehow better than someone else because of one of these factors, we are not listening to what Jesus said.  Jesus also asked them not to just hear what He said, but to understand it.  We can quote chapter and verse of the Bible but knowing them without understanding them does us no good.  Verse fifteen adds, There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.  Jesus then said that nothing entering a man could defile him, yet this is too often what we judge people by.  The second half of the verse makes it clearer.  It is our thoughts that defile us.  I don't believe that Jesus was saying that it is okay to put anything into our body that we choose to, but that it is our thoughts that lead us to do so.  We may not use illegal drugs, drink or smoke for example, but if we hate those who do, we are defiling ourselves.  Our thoughts are going to be judged by God because they lead to our actions.  Verse sixteen continues, If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.  Of course, for what Jesus teaches to have any meaning to anyone, they must first hear Him and then put their faith in Him as their personal Savior and Lord and then allow the Holy Spirit to guide their thoughts.   Verse seventeen states, And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. When Jesus was in a house alone with His disciples, they asked Him what the parable He had just shared meant.  The best way to understand what the Bible says is to get alone with Jesus away from the outside noise of the world and to allow the Holy Spirit to guide us to an understanding.  Verse eighteen adds, And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him;  Jesus asked His disciples if they were also without understanding, and as Christians this is something we will never have to be unless we choose to be.  I believe that if we prayerfully seek to understand God's word as followers of Christ that we will be given an understanding of God's word clearly.  Verse nineteen continues, Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? Again, Jesus said very clearly that what enters us from the outside, like food, cannot defile us.  We sometimes spend a lot of time concentrating on external things though, such as how a person looks or dresses, more than we do on their actions.  Verse twenty says, And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.  Verse twenty-one adds, For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, Jesus then once more said that it is the things within that defile a person, because in our heart or mind we propose evil.  Even if we are worshipping God in church, if in our thoughts are looking down on others who are there worshipping as well, our thoughts have defiled us, even if our actions seem good.  Verse twenty-two continues, Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:  Verse twenty-three concludes, All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.  Jesus then listed several things that come from within that defile us.  As Christians, we need to keep our thoughts on what God would have us do at all times. Otherwise, we will allow the standards of the world to guide or thoughts and then our actions.   

Mark 7:1

Mark 7:1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. Some of the Pharisees and scribes from Jerusalem came together to Jesus.  They, being from Jerusalem, God's Holy City, may have believed themselves to be even more righteous than even other Pharisees and scribes.  The Pharisees and scribes were very much concerned with their status in the Jewish community, those who were supposed to be God's people.  Sometimes, people today can be somewhat the same way, either by being a preacher or religious leader who believes that they are more righteous than the average person or even other preachers, or by being a Christian who believes that preachers in large churches or religious leaders in higher up positions are more worthy of being listened to than the preacher of an average sized or small congregation.  Verse two adds, And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.  Verse three continues, For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. The Pharisees and scribes were also all about religious traditions, and they had a concern about Jesus and His disciples and their hand washing.  I don't believe this was about hygiene, but about ceremonial hand washing, which they said a person should do often before they ate.  Verse four concludes, And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.  We need to make sure that we do not begin to put more emphasis on rituals than we do on our relationship with God and other Christians.  Just because some people may not worship exactly the way we have done traditionally does not mean that the way that other people worship is wrong.  The Pharisees and scribes also had many rules about washing pots and pans that went above just getting them clean.  We may attempt to impose rules and regulations about worship and everyday life today that have nothing to do with spiritual cleanliness.  Of course, the Pharisees and scribes did one thing right.  They came to Jesus for answers, even though they came for the wrong reason.  They wanted to prove He was wrong in what He did.  The first step to being made righteous is not to follow rules and rituals but is always to come to Jesus by faith and to accept Him as your personal Savior and Lord.  Verse five states, Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?  Once more, the Pharisees and scribes were asking Jesus about religious traditions instead of about God's commandments.  We need to make sure that as Christians we don't allow traditions to become more important than God's law.  When they asked about eating with unwashed hands, it was not about washing them so they would be physically clean, but it was about a ritual washing of the hands.  Rituals will never cleanse us spiritually.  Verse six adds, He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Verse seven continues, Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.  Jesus answered them, using what Isaiah had prophesied to point out their hypocrisy.  The Bible, God’s Holy Word, will always point it out if we are being hypocritical in our actions as we claim to serve God.  Jesus said that the Pharisees and scribes were paying God lip service, but their hearts were far from God.  We need to pray that we never get this way, following traditions of man instead of God's word.  Jesus then told them that as Isaiah had said, they were teaching religious doctrines and manmade commandments instead of God's commandments.  The Bible should be the only source of authority that we need as Christians.  Jesus said the washing of pots and pans was a manmade tradition and not something that God had commanded. Jesus also said there were many other things that the Pharisees and scribes did that were not in accordance with God's commandments.  We need to ensure that everything we do, both in worship and everyday life is in accordance with God's will.  As followers of Christ, we have not only the Bible but also the Holy Spirit to guide us.  Verse eight says, For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do, Verse nine adds, And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition. Jesus said that they rejected the commandments of God so that they could follow their own traditions.  We need to pray that we never become this way.  Of course, the first thing that we must accept from God's word is that we are all sinners who need to come to the heavenly Father through faith in His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.  Verse ten states, For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:  In context, Jesus was still talking to the scribes and Pharisees about putting tradition above God's word.  Jesus said that God through Moses commanded everyone to honor their father and mother, but they had come up with a tradition to avoid doing so.  We better make sure that we do not attempt to alter God's word by following some tradition.  The second part of the commandment said that anyone who didn't honor their father and mother should be put to death.  God takes the honoring of one's father and mother very seriously, and He did not put any qualifiers on the commandment.  He did not say some of the time, or if they deserve it, or if it doesn't go against what I want.  Verse eleven adds, But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.  Verse twelve continues, And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother; The Pharisees and scribes used a tradition of swearing by the gold of the temple and the gift on the altar that their parents wouldn't profit from them.  We cannot relieve ourselves of obedience to God's commandments by claiming that what we are doing for the church relieves us from that responsibility.  Jesus said the Pharisees and scribes used this tradition to say that anyone who followed it was free from doing what he should to honor his father and mother. Verse thirteen concludes, Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.  Jesus then said that their tradition made God's word of no effect.  Whatever we do, we can never allow anything to come between God and us.  Of course, the first thing we must do is accept Jesus Christ as our personal Savior and Lord, otherwise all of God's word is to no effect.  

Mark 6:53

Mark 6:53 says, And when they had passed over, they came into the land of Gennesaret, and drew to the shore.  The disciples had been in a ship in a storm when Jesus came to them walking on the water.  As Christians, often we may find ourselves figuratively in a boat in a storm, but we need to realize that we are never alone.  The Holy Spirit is always with us, but we need to acknowledge that fact to find peace in the storm.  Verse fifty-four adds, And when they were come out of the ship, straightway they knew him.  When the disciples got safely to the shore and got to the dry land, where the storm would not endanger them, they then recognized Jesus.  We should never let fear keep us from recognizing that God is at work keeping us safe, but at times it is only after the storm has passed by that we recognize this fact.  If we know Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord, there should never be a time that we give in to fear and doubt.  Verse fifty-five continues, And ran through that whole region round about, and began to carry about in beds those that were sick, where they heard he was.  Verse fifty-six concludes, And whithersoever he entered, into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought him that they might touch if it were but the border of his garment: and as many as touched him were made whole.  After getting to shore at Gennesaret, many people came to Jesus to be healed, and those who simply touched the hem of His garment by faith were healed.  It was not the physical act of touching Jesus that healed them, but their faith in Him that did.  If you have not come to Jesus for spiritual healing by putting your faith in Him as your personal Savior and Lord, this is always the first step to spiritual healing. There is no other way to be restored to a right relationship with God.